Diagnosis

Pituitary tumors often go undiagnosed because their symptoms resemble those of other conditions. And some pituitary tumors are found because of medical tests for other conditions.

To diagnose a pituitary tumor, your doctor will likely take a detailed history and perform a physical exam. He or she might order:

• Blood and urine tests. These tests can determine whether you have an overproduction or deficiency of hormones.
• Brain imaging. A CT scan or MRI scan of your brain can help your doctor judge the location and size of a pituitary tumor.
• Vision testing.This can determine if a pituitary tumor has impaired your sight or peripheral vision.

In addition, your doctor might refer you to an endocrinologist for more-extensive testing.