What Causes Hypopituitarism?

Hypopituitarism is a disorder when the pituitary gland, located between the ears at the base of the brain, does not produce enough of its hormones or does not produce one or more of its hormones at all. This gland is often called the master gland because it manages the functions of most other endocrine glands in the body. The pituitary gland does this by producing hormones such as adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, growth hormone, prolactin, and antidiuretic hormone. When an individual with hypopituitarism is unable to produce one of these hormones, it results in the loss of function or decreased function of the organ or gland it manages.