Dr. William Young

Hosted by Dr. Geoff Thompson. The pituitary gland, albeit the size of an acorn, sitting on the underside of the brain, embedded in the base of the skull, is critical to numerous essential bodily functions. It produces hormones that regulate virtually every other endocrine gland in the body (thyroid, adrenal, ovaries and testes) to maintain health and wellness, growth and development, reproduction, and life itself. Tumors of the pituitary gland are common, but most are small and inconsequential. When enlarged, they can put pressure on the optic nerves, leading to partial blindness. When producing uncontrolled amounts of their own hormones, they can alter normal bodily functions, leading to potentially dangerous and life-threatening syndromes ( Cushing’s disease, acromegaly, hyperthyroidism). In a similar fashion, deficiencies of pituitary hormones can also cause bodily harm. Most pituitary tumors are amenable to removal via transnasal, minimally invasive surgery.