Prolactinomas in men tend to be large tumors and are often invasive.
Dr. Blevins Corner
Medical comments from Dr. Lewis Blevins MD. Director Center for Pituitary Disorders at University California San Francisco
Tests of Pituitary Function: Prolactin
From Lewis Blevins, MD – Photo abstract blend – Prolactin is produced by the anterior pituitary gland. Its secretion is largely regulated by dopamine from the hypothalamus which inhibits prolactin production and release. TRH (which
The Sella Turcica
Diabetes Insipidus: A few clinical pearls
From Lewis Blevins. MD – Polyuria in the setting of thirst and increased water intake, with a dilute urine, and a high or high normal serum sodium (>141-142 mEq/L) is usually recognizable as DI. Some
Prolactinoma and Visual Field Deficits.
From Lewis Blevins, MD – These images show the serial visual fields in a patient with a pituitary tumor. The blackened parts illustrate what the patient CANNOT see as if they were our very
Empty Sella Syndrome
From Lewis Blevins, MD – Empty sella syndrome as a misnomer for the sella is not empty. It is usually filled with spinal fluid. Furthermore, a true syndrome does not exist. An empty sella
Lewis Blevins, MD – My Story
J.D. wrote his story and the intimation was that I should do the same so that all of you know who we are. So, I’ll do it this way……let’s call it….things you may not know
Tests of Pituitary Function: Adrenal Insufficiency.
From Lewis Blevins, MD – The pituitary gland secretes ACTH that in turn drives cortisol production by the adrenal glands. ACTH secretion is determined by ambient cortisol levels, which inhibit ACTH production and secretion, and
Tests of Pituitary Function: Cushing’s syndrome
From Lewis Blevins, MD – Photo of Dr. Lewis Blevins – Cortisol is a stress hormone. Thus, physical or psychic stress can elevate cortisol levels in normal persons. Depression and alcoholism can elevate cortisol
What constitutes a normal test result?
From Dr. Lewis Blevins. What constitutes a normal test result? In most endocrine assays, it is a population of supposedly normal individuals that defines the upper and lower limits of normal. Take the mean, and
The Hypothalamus
From Lewis Blevins, MD – Image from UPMC – The hypothalamus is recognized as the part of the brain that surrounds the third ventricle. It contains the cell bodies of neurons that release hypothalamic hormones
Drugs that may affect your thyroid hormone dose.
From Dr. Lewis Blevins. Patient’s with pituitary and thyroid disorders may be required to make adjustments in thyroid hormone dosages since their glands cannot work together to make those adjustments in certain situations that
Tests of Pituitary Function: Thyroid
From Dr. Lewis Blevins. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is produced by the pituitary gland and leads to the secretion of T4 and T3 by the thyroid gland. Most circulating T3 is driveed from the peripheral