Symptoms of Pituitary Problems in a Teen Boy

Hormones control the onset of puberty, the process that moves children into sexual maturity. They are controlled by the pituitary gland, a tiny organ at the base of the brain that is part of the endocrine system. When the process of puberty is delayed or interrupted, a teen boy will exhibit symptoms that call for medical evaluation of pituitary functioning.

Lack of Growth

• A male teen who isn't having an adolescent growth spurt and whose sex organs are not becoming mature is exhibiting a lack of growth hormone. The cause could be pituitary dwarfism, one of several types of dwarfism, the result of too little growth hormone secretion or lack of response. Less commonly, pituitary dwarfism can be caused by trauma such as a fall or by a benign pituitary tumor. These tumors are fairly common and seldom cause problems unless they interfere with hormone function.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

• Secondary sex characteristic include muscle growth, appearance of body and facial hair and enlargement of the larynx, causing male voices to deepen. A teen who isn't seeing these developmental signs should be examined.

Giantism

• Is he tall or too tall?

  An excess of growth hormone secretion in a teenage boy usually is caused by a benign tumor called an adenoma. If left untreated, the result is giantism, literally outsize height. One of the best-known cases in the medical literature is a man whose birth height and weight were normal, but he grew to 8 feet, 11 inches before his death at age 22.

Acromegaly

• If a teen has already gone through puberty and the growth plates on the ends of his bones have closed, excess growth hormone secretion may cause acromegaly. In addition to unusual tallness, symptoms include enlargement of the feet, hands, nose, lips and jaw, causing some deformation of appearance. Other symptoms include sweating, body odor, joint pain, hoarseness and thickening of the skin. Appropriate treatment can halt the process.

Thyroid Issues

• A disturbance of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which is responsible for metabolism, can be caused by a pituitary problem. Symptoms vary. A teenager who is always fatigued, has gained weight, lost some hair, can't tolerate cold and is generally irritable may have too little TSH, whereas a teen who can't sleep, is hyperactive, anxious, and sometimes in a mental fog is showing symptoms of too much TSH. Hormone therapy may be needed.

Nonspecific Symptoms

• Pituitary problems can also cause a number of nonspecific symptoms, including headaches, vomiting, vision problems, intense hunger or weight loss.