Complications

Pituitary tumors usually don't grow or spread extensively. However, they can affect your health, possibly causing:

• Vision loss. A pituitary tumor can put pressure on the optic nerves.
• Permanent hormone deficiency. The presence of a pituitary tumor or the removal of one may permanently alter your hormone supply, which may need to be replaced with hormone medications.

A rare but potentially serious complication of a pituitary tumor is pituitary apoplexy, when sudden bleeding into the tumor occurs. It feels like the most severe headache you've ever had. Pituitary apoplexy requires emergency treatment, usually with corticosteroids and possibly surgery.