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Pituitary Tumors

These notes are provided to help you understand the diagnosis or possible diagnosis of cancer in your pet. For general information on cancer in pets ask for our handout "What is Cancer". Your veterinarian may suggest certain tests to help confirm or eliminate diagnosis, and to help assess treatment options and likely outcomes. Because individual situations and responses vary, and because cancers often behave unpredictably, science can only give us a guide. However, information and understanding about tumors and their treatment in animals is improving all the time.

This can be a very worrying time. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian.

What is the function of the pituitary gland?

The pituitary gland is an endocrine gland located at the base of the brain. Endocrine glands produce specialized chemicals called hormones, which regulate and integrate many activities to maintain internal stability of the body. The hormones pass directly into the blood to affect target cells elsewhere. The distinct endocrine glands are the adrenals, thyroid, parathyroids, pituitary gland and islets in the pancreas, although hormones are produced by many cells in other tissues. The pituitary links to other glands through its hormones and regulates hormone production by the adrenal, thyroid and sexual organs as well as growth and day-to-day cycles of activity (diurnal rhythm).

What are tumors of the pituitary gland? 

Most pituitary tumors are benign (and a few are non-cancerous cysts) but because of their location, they still produce serious adverse effects as they enlarge and they are rarely curable. Many produce hormones that have effects on the glands normally targeted by pituitary hormones, which also have effects on the targets of the hormones of these glands. The most common hormone produced by pituitary tumors stimulates the adrenal cortex leading to clinical signs associated with overstimulation of these glands (hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing's disease).

What do we know about the cause?

The reason why a particular pet may develop this, or any cancer, is not straightforward. Cancer is essentially the result of non-lethal genetic damage to cells with "external" contributory factors that may include radiation, chemicals, hormones and infections. The mutated cells upset the normal regulation of cell death and replacement. They do this by activating growth-promoting oncogenes (cancer genes), inactivating suppressor genes and altering the genes that regulate normal, programmed cell death (apoptosis).

Non-cancerous cysts of the pituitary glands may be genetic or due to malformation of the area in early life. We know little about the causes of pituitary cancers.

Cancer induction is a multistep process called tumor progression. Some cancers never progress past the first stages so remain benign. Others progress rapidly.

Are these common tumors?

None of these tumors is common but tumors of the pituitary that produce the hormone ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal cortex are the least rare.

How will these cancers affect my pet?

Tumors of the pituitary exert pressure on the surrounding tissues. Not only does this affect the function of the gland but it may also affect the adjacent brain. Clinical signs associated with compression of adjacent structures may include difficulty seeing and 'diabetes insipidus' (excessive drinking and urination due to an inability to concentrate urine). Clinical signs associated with decreased output of the pituitary include slowing of the body's functions, low blood sugar and loss of sexual libido and performance.

"Most pituitary tumors produce hormones."

Most pituitary tumors produce hormones. The most common hormone is adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), excess of which leads to increased size and activity of the adrenal cortex and over-production of adrenal hormones. The second most common type of pituitary tumor are found in cats, secondary effects include diabetes mellitus, degenerative arthritis and kidney disease.

The clinical signs of primary pituitary tumors that secondarily affect the adrenal glands are the same as those of primary adrenocortical tumors. They include increased appetite and thirst, loss of hair, dry skin and "blackheads" on the belly, hard (calcium) masses in the skin on the neck and back (these masses may ulcerate and become infected), and a pendulous or sagging abdomen caused by redistribution of body fat and weakening of muscles. The immune system is damaged so infections persist.

pituitary_tumors-2

How are these cancers diagnosed? 

Your veterinarian may suspect the presence of a pituitary tumor based on your pet's clinical signs. X-rays, ultrasound and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computerized tomography) scans may be useful in detecting the tumors, including metastases.

Blood tests help to indicate the presence of functional tumors of the pituitary and adrenal cortex. To identify the tumor type precisely, it is necessary to examine the tumor itself; unfortunately, this is not practical for most pituitary tumors.

 

What types of treatment are available?

Surgical removal of pituitary gland tumors is difficult and rarely attempted. Pituitary tumors causing excessive stimulation of the adrenals may be treated by surgical removal of both adrenal glands, but medical treatment is more usual. The patient needs long-term treatment and monitoring.

Can these cancers disappear without treatment?

It is not common, but the loss of blood supply to a cancer can make the cells die. Unfortunately, the disappearance of the cancer is rarely complete.

How can I nurse my pet? 

Medical treatment of these tumors involves the use of toxic drugs so monitoring of your animal is essential. Your veterinarian will discuss the specifics of your pet's treatment and monitoring. Good observation by you will enable this to be more accurate and improves the prognosis because relapses are common. Please ensure you understand what you should check, how frequently and signs you should look out for.

How will I know how the cancer will behave?

Your veterinarian will be able to explain how the specific tumor in your animal is likely to respond to treatment and behave in the future.

When will I know if the cancer is permanently cured?

Pituitary tumors are rarely diagnosed until they are large enough to induce clinical problems. Those that do not produce hormones and which cannot be treated surgically will not be curable. They are likely to continue to grow so clinical signs attributable to them will persist and may worsen. The rate of growth will vary and depends on the individual tumor.

"The rate of growth will vary and
depends on the individual tumor."

In cases of pituitary tumors causing hyperadrenocorticism that are medically managed, the treatment needs monitoring and life expectancy is variable from days to ten years but averaging less than three years. Relapses are common. Deaths are usually due to problems associated with the original disease (e.g. heart failure, infection, pancreatic disease such as diabetes) rather than drug toxicity. In cats with pituitary tumors producing other hormones, the treatment for the secondary effects is symptomatic, and the tumors are incurable.

Are there any risks to my family or other pets?

No, these are not infectious tumors and are not transmitted from pet to pet or from pets to people.

© Copyright 2025 LifeLearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license. This content written by LifeLearn Animal Health (LifeLearn Inc.) is licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying, printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written consent of LifeLearn. This content does not contain all available information for any referenced medications and has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, or Health Canada Veterinary Drugs Directorate. This content may help answer commonly asked questions, but is not a substitute for medical advice, or a proper consultation and/or clinical examination of your pet by a veterinarian. Please contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health. Last updated on Jul 7, 2016.