Does a nosebleed indicate a pituitary tumor? | These symptoms indicate a pituitary tumor!

Does a nosebleed indicate a pituitary tumor?

Nosebleeds can theoretically occur in brain or skull tumours, but this is more typical for tumours in the paranasal sinuses or throat. The pituitary gland, on the other hand, is separated from the interior of the nose by bony structures, which is why blood is normally unable to flow from the pituitary gland to the nose. In addition, pituitary tumours are characterised by displacing rather than infiltrating growth, so that bleeding is very untypical anyway. So if you only suffer from regular nosebleeds but do not experience any of the other symptoms described above, fear of a tumour is really unfounded. In this case, have yourself examined by an ear, nose and throat specialist to find the actual cause of the nosebleed.

Symptoms of a pituitary tumor in children

In general, pituitary tumors occur predominantly in middle-aged people, between 35 and 45 years of age. Occasionally, however, children are affected. The diagnosis is often complicated by the fact that they are not yet able to describe and localise their symptoms as clearly as adults.

In principle, however, a pituitary tumour in children manifests itself through the same spectrum of symptoms as in adults. Thus, they initially complain mainly of headaches behind the forehead or spread over the entire head. Older children also report failures or reduced vision in the outer areas.

For smaller children, on the other hand, simple tests to check their vision are a good idea: for example, set visual, appealing stimuli (e.g. sweets or toys) in the outer area of the child’s visual field and observe whether and how determinedly the child focuses his or her attention on the stimulus. If the pituitary tumour produces growth hormones, this can lead to accelerated and uncontrolled growth. The decisive factor here is the progression: If the child has always been taller than average, it is not surprising if this tendency continues into adolescence.

On the other hand, it should be noted if the child experiences a sudden, immense growth spurt. However, it should be emphasised that even such developments are only rarely triggered by a pituitary tumour.