The pituitary gland is often referred to as the master gland, coordinating hormonal signals from the hypothalamus and peripheral circulation to maintain homeostasis in the body. Patients with pituitary dysfunction are faced with challenges unique to each stage of their life cycle. For example, the goals of management for a hypopituitary adolescent transitioning to adulthood would be to optimize growth and sexual development. In early adulthood, approaches that optimize of fertility in men and women can be a priority, and the management approach will be very different from that of older adults requiring sex hormone replacement. This case-based guide will provide practical clinical guidance on approaches to the management of pituitary disorders organized by time of life, from childhood and fertile years through to older age. Sensibly divided into sections, various pituitary disorders and conditions are described and relevant treatment strategies are outlined. Sections included discussions of the unique considerations for the pituitary gland in childhood and adolescents, patients desiring fertility and pregnant patients, health optimization and non-tumoral diagnoses in adults, and management of disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in the elderly. Each chapter presents a clinical case vignette as an introduction to the concepts and a framework for the discussion of the diagnosis, management and unique consideration of each pituitary pathology. Practical and user-friendly, Pituitary Disorders throughout the Life Cycle is an excellent resource for practicing clinical endocrinologists (pediatric, transitional care, adult) and reproductive endocrinologists as well as specialty residents and trainees.

This unique book presents an up-to-date discussion of clinical disorders of the pituitary gland in children with specific emphasis on state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment modalities, highlighting the newest scientific advances in genomics and molecular biology that clinician-scientists caring for children need to know. Chapters focus on the current knowledge base in genomics, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and medical and surgical management, organized into thematic sections. Part I discusses embryologic and genetic disorders, including genomics and congenital disorders of the pituitary. Part II presents acquired pituitary disorders, such as prolactinomas, Cushing's Disease, and both hormone secreting and non-secreting pituitary tumors. Subsequent sections cover posterior pituitary disorders, such as diabetes insipidus, functional hormone deficiencies of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, including delayed puberty and pubertal disorders and growth hormone disorders, neuro-opthalmic disease, CNS radiation, childhood cancer treatment and traumatic brain injury. Authoritative and comprehensive, Pituitary Disorders of Childhood will serve as a precise guide for clinical endocrinologists and will guide future investigation into translational and clinical research on the pediatric pituitary.

This issue of Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics, edited by Drs. Anat Ben-Shlomo and Maria Fleseriu, is devoted to Pituitary Disorders. Articles in this issue include: Pathogenesis of Pituitary Tumors; Prognostic Clinicopathological Classification of Pituitary Adenomas; Familial Isolated Pituitary Adenomas (FIPA) and Mutations in the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Interacting Protein (AIP) Gene; Pitfalls of IGF1 and GH Assays; Acromegaly: Pharmacotherapy; Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal Axis Testing; Pharmacotherapy of Cushing Disease: New Targets; Prolactinomas; Non-functioning Pituitary Tumors; Cabergoline Use for Pituitary Tumors and Valvular Disorders; Aggressive Atypical Pituitary Tumors and Carcinoma; Outcomes of Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery; Efficacy and Complications of Pituitary Irradiation; Hypopituitarism: GH and ACTH Deficiency; Hypophysitis; Hypopituitarism After Traumatic Brain Injury; Quality of Life in Pituitary Diseases; Pituitary and Bone Disease; Pituitary Tumor Management in Pregnancy; and Pituitary Apoplexy.

Nineteen cutting-edge review articles by leading authorities provide a comprehensive overview of the normal function of the pituitary and of the diagnosis and treatment of pituitary disorders. Topics range from normal hypothalamic-pituitary interactions and the processes that disrupt them to new advances in pituitary imaging and appropriate surgical intervention in various pituitary disorders. Among the diseases discussed are congenital hypopituitarism, deficiency states, strategies for evaluating patients with hyperprolactinemia, Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly, and glycoprotein pituitary tumors.

Function and disease of the pituitary gland have long been at the center of research interest. Based on a recent scientific meeting held in Angra dos Reis, Brazil, this volume of Frontiers of Hormone Research presents the latest research results: specialists from Latin and North America, Europe and Australia discuss in their contributions different aspects of pathogenesis, diagnostics and therapy of pituitary disease and pituitary tumors. Topics covered include pituitary cell development and organization in adult pituitary, tumorigenesis, prolactinomas, growth hormone and acromegaly, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and Cushing disease.This update on basic and clinical pituitary research is essential reading for endocrinologists, neuroendocrinologists and neurosurgeons as well as researchers and biochemists interested in the different aspects of pituitary physiopathology.

This issue of Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics will cover Pituitary Disorders. Curated by Dr. Niki Karavitaki, this issue will explore topics in the field that are relevant for practicing clinicians. This issue is one of four selected each year by the series Consulting Editor, Adriana G. Ioachimescu. The volume will include articles on: Epidemiology of pituitary disease, Advances in the imaging of pituitary tumours, WHO 2017 classification of pituitary tumours, Cancer immunotherapy and pituitary function, Advances in the medical treatment of Cushing's disease, Nelson's syndrome, Update on genetics of pituitary tumours, Dopamine agonists for pituitary tumours: benefits and risks, Acromegaly: Update on management and long-term morbidities, Endoscopic surgery for pituitary tumours, Aggressive pituitary adenomas and carcinomas, Diabetes insipidus: an update, Management of hypothalamic obesity, and Pituitary Centers of Excellence.

Gigantism and Acromegaly brings together pituitary experts, taking readers from bench research, to genetic analysis, clinical analysis, and new therapeutic approaches. This book serves as a reference for growth hormone over-secretion and its diagnosis and treatment for endocrinologists, pediatricians, internists, and neurosurgeons, and for geneticists. Pharmaceutical companies may use it as a reference for drug development and research. Students, residents and fellows in medicine and endocrinology and genetics will also find it valuable as it provides a single up-to-date review of the molecular biology of gigantism and acromegaly as well as recommended approaches to evaluation and management. Acromegaly is a rare pituitary disorder that slowly changes its adult victim's appearance over time: larger hands and feet, bigger jaw, forehead, nose, and lips. Generally, a benign pituitary tumor is the cause and symptoms of acromegaly can vary from patient to patient, making a diagnosis difficult and prolonging suffering for years. Early detection is key in the management of acromegaly as the pathologic effects of increased growth hormone (GH) production are progressive and can be life-threatening as the result of associated cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory disorders and malignancies. - Accessible, up-to-date overview of the characteristics, state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures, and management of acromegaly and gigantism - Provides a unique compendium of endocrinology, genetics, clinical diagnosis and therapeutics - Contains contributions from internationally known experts who have treated patients with acromegaly and gigantism