Disorders of Pituitary Function:

The disorders of pituitary function result  in following conditions. 

Hypopituitarism: Growth Hormone  (GH) Deficiency Hypopituitarism is primarily a disorder associated with deficient secretion of GH (somatropin).  

It may be caused by  a  variety of  conditions which may  include developmental defects, destructive lesions such as tumors, trauma, vascular abnormalities, or  surgery, certain hereditary  disorders, or  functional disorders such as anorexia nervosa  or  psychosocial dwarfism.  In more  than half  of children with hypopituitarism, no lesion is evident  and  the cause is unknown- idiopathic hypopituitarism or  idiopathic pituitary growth failure. The children with hypopituitarism may  be normal at  birth but  later during  infancy  there is deviation in growth from normal growth  rate. Treatment consists of  replacement of  growth hormone  and  in  cases where cause  is due  to organic lesion  then surgical  removal of  lesion is done.  

Pituitary Hyperfunction

If  the  excess of  Growth Hormone  (GH) occurs  prior  to closure  of  the epiphysieal shafts  it  results in proportional overgrowth of  long bones until the individual reaches  a  height of  8 feet or more. There  is  rapid  and  increased development of muscles and viscera along with vertical growth. Weight  is increased but  is usually  in  proportion  to height. Also there is proportional enlargement  of head  circumference which may result in delayed closure of  the fontanels. Children with  a  pituitary-secreting tumor may  also demonstrate signs of  increased intracranial pressure, especially headache. If hypersecretion of  GH occurs after epiphyseal closure, growth takes place in the transverse direction, producing  a condition known as acromegaly.