Question: I had a pituitary tumor almost 13 years ago. I now take 3 drugs due to the loss of pituitary hormones. How many patients have to continue to take medication for the rest of their lives and why?

Answer: If a patient has hypopituitarism (low pituitary function) from either the tumor or the surgery of the tumor, patients may need to take multiple hormone replacements, to replace thyroid, steroid, testosterone/estrogen, growth hormone, and/or vasopressin hormones. This is usually seen in patients who have large pituitary adenomas that required more aggressive surgery for tumor resection. This may also be seen in up to one-third of patients who have undergone radiation therapy.

Dr. Laurence Katznelson MD (Winter, 2008)