Pituitary Disorders Flashcards
Pituitary gland location
Sella turcica within sphenoid bone
Relationship of pituitary to hypothalamus
Inferior
Pituitary in close proximity to
Close proximity to:
– Optic Chiasm
– Carotid Arteries
– C.N. III, IV, V, VI
CRH
ACTH Cortisol
TRH
TSH T3, T4
GnRH
FSH,LH Sex Hormones
GHRH
GH IGF
PRF
Prolactin Lactation
Dopamine
↓ Prolactin ↓ Lactation
Somatostatin
↓ GH ↓ IGF
2 types of pituitary tumors
Two Basic Types:
• Functional (hormone secreting “microadenoma”)
• Non-Functional (non-secreting “macroadenoma”)
Hormone secreting is
Functional, “microadenoma”
Non-secreting
Nonfunction, macroadenoma
Functional (Micro-adenomas)
– Hypersecretion of usually one hormone
– Multiple hormones rare, most common
combination is GH & Prolactin
– Account for approximately 55% of pituitary tumors
Non-Functional (Macro-adenomas)
– Signs/Symptoms due to___________
Compression
• pituitary gland itself or surrounding structures
• HA, visual disturbances, CN deficits, Hypopituitarism
– Account for approximately 45% of pituitary tumors
Non-Functional Tumors Compression of:
Optic Chiasm Third Ventricle Cranial Nerves II – VI Carotid Arteries Hypophyseal Portal System & Infundibulum Pituitary gland itself
Optic chiasm compression
Light from lateral (“temporal”) visual fields strikes medial
retina.
Medial axons cross at O.C.
Injury to O.C. results in loss of lateral visual fields.
With transphenoidal surgery
may have deficit to trigeminal nerve
Only _______cristcross, Lateral fibers_____
Medial fibers cristcross; does not
Image on Lateral retinal axons travel straight back.
retina is flipped – Lateral light strikes medial retina.
Medial retinal axons
carrying lateral image info cross over at O.C.
Early enlargement compresses
inferior O.C. first, resulting in superiolateral visual loss
quadrantanopia
in Optic chiasm compression Later,
all axons compressed – results in full loss of lateral visual
fields (BITEMPORAL hemianopia).
Further Superior Extension of Tumor
- Compression/impingement of Third Ventricle
- Can cause obstruction of CSF flow
- Results in Obstructive Hydrocephalus leading to increased ICP.
Pre-operative Intracranial Hypertension may present with:
- N/V
- Altered Mental Status
- HA (bifrontal or bitemporal)
- Papilledema
Increased ICP Papilledema means
• Papilledema (optic disc swelling)* – HA – Enlarged blind spot – Visual disturbances – Vision loss
Papilledema is associated with
Blurred Disc Margins
Anesthesia Considerations in Increased ICP : Pre-Op sedation should be
carefully administered as these pt.s may be sensitive to
sedative drugs.
Anesthesia Considerations in Increased ICP
Drug induced hypoventilation can
exacerbate intracranial hypertension due to hypercapnia
induced cerebral vasodilation.
Anesthesia Considerations in Increased ICP
Anesthesia induction agents should be carefully
titrated to avoid hypotension.
Anesthesia Considerations in Increased ICP
2 meds that can increase ICP.
Ketamine and high-dose volatile anesthetics
Lateral Expansion of Tumor
- Invasion of cavernous sinus
- Compression of Cranial Nerves II – VI
- Compression of Carotid Artery
Cranial Nerve Compression Losses II
visual function (especially lateral fields)
Cranial Nerve Compression Losses III
pupillary constriction
Cranial Nerve Compression Losses III, IV, VI
extra-ocular movements
Cranial Nerve Compression Losses V
facial sensation (first & second branches)
Hypopituitarism Pituitary Failure, Caused by Tumor Compression of:
- Pitutary gland itself
- Infundibulum (stalk)
- Hypophyseal Portal System
Hypopituitary changes in hormones
Results in: ↓GH,ACTH,TSH,FSH/LH,ADH,OT, ↑PRL (because of dopamine) (prolactin inhibiting factor)
Hypophyseal Portal Compression Hypothalamic releasing factors cannot
reach target cells in the pituitary
PIF
Prolactin Inhibiting Factor (Dopamine)
Pituitary Failure can be Acute or Chronic
Acute Failure leads to
–________ failure
– __________have short half-lives
acute adrenal insufficiency
HPA axis
ACTH and Cortisol 10 mins. and 90 mins. respectively
Symptoms of Pituitary Failure:
Nausea, dilutional hyponatremia (from ↓aldosterone), profound hypotension or shock