After years of clinical suspicion, large studies confirm elevated risk across multiple cancers From Lewis S Blevins Jr., MD – Professor of Neurological Surgery, Medical Director of the California Center for Pituitary Disorders at UCSF
Dr. Blevins Corner
Medical comments from Dr. Lewis Blevins MD. Director Center for Pituitary Disorders at University California San Francisco
Tests of Pituitary Function: Gonadotropins in Men
October 6, 2014
From Lewis Blevins, MD – LH and FSH are produced by the pituitary gland under the regulation of pulsatile secretion of GnRH from the hypothalamus. LH stimulates the Leydig cells of the testes to produce testosterone.
Tests of Pituitary Function: Gonadotropins in Women
October 6, 2014
From Lewis Blevins MD – LH and FSH are produced by the pituitary gland under the regulation of pulsatile secretion of GnRH from the hypothalamus. LH stimulates the thecal cells around a developing egg in
Rathke’s Cleft and other Pituitary Cysts
October 5, 2014
Understand Rathke’s cleft and other pituitary cysts—what they are, how they form, and why naming them matters.
Pineal Gland Cysts.
October 5, 2014
From Lewis Blevins, MD – Pineal cysts are seen in about 2% of all MRI’s of the brain. I see them as perhaps more common in pituitary patients simply because I look at the scans
Tests of Pituitary Function: Prolactin
October 2, 2014
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
September 25, 2014
An anatomical journey to the sella turcica with Dr. Lewis Blevins of Pituitary World News on September 24, 2014.
Diabetes Insipidus: A few clinical pearls
September 25, 2014
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.
September 24, 2014
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
September 24, 2014
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
September 22, 2014
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.
September 19, 2014
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
September 17, 2014
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