Pituitary Cancer Negligence & Misdiagnosis Claims Solicitors.

The pituitary gland is a small, pea-sized gland that is responsible for several important functions in the body, including metabolism, growth, and reproduction. It is located at the base of the brain, behind the optic nerves, and is divided into two parts – the anterior and posterior- with each part producing different hormones.

Hormones are like chemical messengers which govern how the tissues and organs of the body work. The hormones produced by the pituitary gland control other hormone-producing glands within the body, including the thyroid and adrenal glands.

• The anterior pituitary gland produces: growth hormone, prolactin (for lactation), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH – for adrenal glands), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH – for ovarian stimulation), and luteinising hormone (LH – for testicular stimulation)
• The posterior pituitary gland produces: antidiuretic hormone (ADH – controls the amount of urine the kidneys produce), and oxytocin which stimulates uterine contractions in childbirth and releases breast milk during feeding

As you can see, the pituitary gland plays a vital role in controlling many of the body’s functions, so when a tumour forms within this gland it can have a detrimental impact on your health in a number of ways.

A pituitary gland tumour is a type of brain tumour, and in most cases, they are benign, which means they do not usually spread to other parts of the brain. However, as a benign tumour grows, it can press on the surrounding tissues and begin to impact on the function of the brain.

There are two types of pituitary gland tumours, as follows:

• Secreting tumours – these produce hormones and are named after that is being over-produced by them
• Non-secreting tumours – these do not produce hormones

When a pituitary tumour is malignant or cancerous, it can begin to metastasize and spread to other parts of the brain, or into the lymph nodes and other organs within the body.  It is therefore vital that it is detected and treated as early as possible.

The symptoms of pituitary cancer can vary depending on the type and size of the tumour. For example, as the tumour grows larger it presses on the brain tissue and can impact its function, causing symptoms such as headaches. The tumour may also press on the optic nerve which can cause vision problems. In some cases, symptoms may be caused by a change in hormone levels, and these symptoms can take quite a while to develop and be detected.

The symptoms associated with secreting tumours directly relate to the hormones that are released, such as:

• Prolactin-secreting tumours – Symptoms for women include irregular periods, amenorrhoea, and reduced lactation. Symptoms in men include reduced libido, impotence, and infertility.
• Growth hormone-secreting tumours – An overproduction of growth hormones can cause acromegaly, a condition characterised by abnormal growth in the hands, feet, brows, and lower jaw. This type of tumour can also cause high blood pressure, excess sweating, sleep apnoea, and diabetes.
• TSH-secreting tumours – Symptoms can include weight loss, palpitations, anxiety, and feeling shaky.
• ACTH-secreting tumours – An overproduction of ACTH can cause weight gain, ‘moon face’, emotional changes, increased facial hair in women, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
• FSH and LH-secreting tumours – These cause an overproduction of oestrogen in women and testosterone in men.
• Posterior pituitary tumours – These are very rare, and the most common symptom is diabetes insipidus, not to be confused with diabetes mellitus. The main symptoms associated with diabetes insipidus are increased thirst, and producing large amounts of weak urine.

As well as the symptoms associated with different types of secreting tumours, some pituitary cancer patients also suffer with symptoms such as headaches, increased fatigue and lethargy, and unexplained weight loss. If you develop any kind of symptoms that give you cause for concern, you should arrange to see your GP as soon as possible so that they can rule out anything serious or put you on the path to receiving a prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Pituitary cancer is usually diagnosed using a combination of different tests to allow doctors to determine the type, size, and position of the tumour, therefore enabling them to plan the best course of treatment for you.

Diagnostic tests may include:

• Eye tests – Pituitary tumours can press on the optic nerve, so an eye test can check for any visual issues
• Blood tests – High or low pituitary hormone levels can indicate the presence of a tumour and prompt further testing
• MRI and CT scans – these scans enable doctors to produce an image of your brain so that the presence of a tumour may be confirmed

Any failure of a medical professional to carry out the appropriate diagnostic tests may give you grounds on which to claim compensation if it leads to a delay in the diagnosis of and worsening of your pituitary cancer. If you are unsure as to whether you are eligible to pursue legal action, please speak to our specialist medical negligence team today who will provide you with free and confidential advice.

The treatment for pituitary cancer will typically be provided by a multidisciplinary team, made up of a variety of medical professionals, including:

• Endocrinologist – a doctor specialising in hormone production disorders
• Ophthalmologist – a doctor specialising in eye disorders
• Oncologist – a doctor specialising in treating tumours and cancer
• Pathologist – a doctor specialising in the examination of tissue samples
• Neurosurgeon – a surgeon specialising in brain operations
• Specialist Nurse – a nurse providing personalised care and treatment
• Other healthcare professionals – including a physiotherapist, dietician, and counsellor as required

The multidisciplinary team responsible for your care will work closely together in order to determine the best possible course of treatment for your pituitary cancer. They will discuss all options with you, explaining the advantages and disadvantages associated with each type of treatment, ensuring that you are fully aware of the risks and side effects, as well as the benefits.

The most common treatment options offered to patients with pituitary cancer include:

• Surgery – It may be necessary to remove part or all of the pituitary gland in order to remove the tumour. In most cases, endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery is suitable – this is a less invasive procedure in which the surgeon passes a camera on the end of a thin tube up the nose and through to the pituitary gland. In rare cases, it may be necessary for a craniotomy to be performed, which is a more invasive and potentially dangerous surgery. Your surgeon will discuss all available surgical options with you beforehand.
• Radiotherapy – High energy radiation rays target and destroy the cancerous cells, thus shrinking the tumour. Radiotherapy may be used as the main treatment of a pituitary tumour, or it can be used after surgery if the tumour was not able to be fully removed.
• Targeted drugs – Some prolactin-secreting tumours can be treated with targeted medication to reduce the production of prolactin, thus slowing the growth of the tumour and reducing the symptoms associated with an overproduction of prolactin.

After treatment, many patients will need to take hormone replacement medication- either short term or long term, depending on the circumstances surrounding their treatment. It is usual for patients to have follow-up appointments with an endocrinologist for several years after treatment to ensure that their hormone levels are stable and that the cancer has not returned.