The pituitary gland is a small, rounded structure, normally the size of a kidney bean, located in a depression below the brain, in the center of the skull base. The gland is joined to the brain by a slender stalk, similar in size to that of a cherry connecting it to the branch of a cherry tree. The brain uses this stalk to communicate with the pituitary gland and control many of the body's hormones.

Pituitary tumors of all sizes can cause problems by interfering with the regulation of hormone production. The two optic nerves join the brain just above the pituitary gland, and, for that reason, vision can also be affected by tumors in this region. Evaluation of a patient with a pituitary tumor is a complex process and usually involves an endocrinologist to evaluate hormone function, an ophthalmologist to evaluate vision, and a neurosurgeon to evaluate the possible benefit of surgery.

Many tumors that involve the pituitary gland are benign, which means they won’t spread to the rest of the body and can often be completely removed by an experienced team of surgeons, leaving the patient cured.