Guide To The Types of Pituitary Tumors

Growth Hormone Tumors

A growth hormone-producing tumor is an abnormal growth in the pituitary gland that results in the production of high amounts of growth hormone. Growth hormone is a hormone that commands the liver to produce insulin-like growth factor 1, which plays a major role in numerous processes in the body, including metabolism, tissue growth, and bone growth. Most growth hormone tumors are noncancerous or benign, but in rare cases, they can progress into malignancy. Individuals who have growth hormone tumors tend to present with some unique symptoms, the most serious being high blood pressure, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Other symptoms of growth hormone tumors include voice deepening, an increase in spaces between the teeth as the jawbone grows larger, frequent kidney stones, abnormal foot growth, dramatic facial changes as the bones grow, increased sweating, headaches, abnormal skull growth, and abnormal hand growth.

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