What is the age distribution for pituitary (Pituitary gland) tumors?

From the Guidelines

Pituitary tumors are most commonly diagnosed in late adolescence, with an increase in incidence from 1% of all intracranial neoplasms before 15 years of age to 18% for patients aged 15–24 years. The age distribution of pituitary tumors is an important consideration in clinical practice, as it can impact diagnosis and treatment 1.

Key Points

• Pituitary adenomas are rare in children under 15 years old, but their incidence increases significantly during late adolescence 1.
• The majority of pituitary adenomas in children and young people are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 19 1.
• Large pituitary adenomas are more prevalent in children and young people than in adults, and can cause significant morbidity due to mass effects 1.
• The treatment of pituitary adenomas in children and young people is challenging due to the lack of high-quality evidence for treatment recommendations in this age group 1.
• A multidisciplinary team approach, including experts from both pediatric and adult practice, is recommended for the diagnosis and management of pituitary adenomas in children and young people 1.

Age Distribution

The age distribution of pituitary tumors varies by tumor type, but most types increase in incidence with age 1.

• Children under 15 years old account for a small percentage of pituitary adenoma diagnoses 1.
• The incidence of pituitary adenomas increases significantly during late adolescence, with 18% of all intracranial neoplasms in patients aged 15-24 years being pituitary adenomas 1.
• The majority of pituitary adenomas in children and young people are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 19 1.

From the Research

Age Distribution of Pituitary Tumors

• The age distribution of pituitary tumors varies according to the type of tumor 2.
• Prolactinomas are the most common type of pituitary tumor and tend to occur mostly in females, with a peak occurrence from the second to the fifth decade of life 2.
• Endocrine-inactive adenomas occur mostly in males and have a peak occurrence from the fourth to the eighth decade of life 2.
• GH-releasing, ACTH-releasing, and TSH-releasing adenomas are more evenly distributed throughout the adult life span 2.
• The female-to-male ratio for a given adenoma type varies greatly with age 2.

Clinical Presentation and Epidemiology

• Pituitary tumors are a heterogeneous group of lesions that are usually benign, with most occurring sporadically, but 5% can occur within family syndromes, usually at a young age 3.
• Functioning pituitary tumors are usually diagnosed earlier than non-functioning pituitary tumors, but this depends on the type of tumor 3.
• Headaches and visual disturbances are the most frequent mass-effect symptoms, but seizures or hydrocephalus may also occur 3, 4.
• Pituitary apoplexy is another possible mode of presentation, and it requires special attention because of its potential severity 3.

Treatment and Prognosis

• The treatment of pituitary tumors commonly requires a multimodal approach, including surgery, radiosurgery, radiation therapy, and medical therapy 4, 5.
• Surgery, specifically transsphenoidal approach, represents the primary treatment chosen for the majority of pituitary tumors, except for prolactinomas where medical treatment is indicated 6, 4, 5.
• Aggressive pituitary tumors or carcinomas are associated with poor prognosis due to limited therapeutic options 4.