Medical Intel

Some pituitary tumors need immediate treatment, while others may benefit from a wait-and-see approach. Dr. Susmeeta Sharma discusses the different types of pituitary tumors and how we care for them.   TRANSCRIPT Intro: MedStar Washington Hospital Center presents Medical Intel where our healthcare team shares health and wellness insights and gives you the inside story on advances in medicine. Host: Thank you for joining us today. We’re talking with Dr. Susmeeta T. Sharma, director of pituitary endocrinology at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Welcome, Dr. Sharma. Dr. Susmeeta T. Sharma: Thank you for having me. Host: Pituitary tumors often cause no symptoms, but when they do, the symptoms typically are vague and easily can be mistaken for other less serious conditions. Pituitary tumors may be functional, which means they secrete excess hormones, or non-functional, which means they do not secrete excess hormones. Dr. Sharma, when symptoms occur, what do patients typically experience? Dr. Sharma: The symptoms