Hypophyseal hypertrophy in pregnancy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Hypophyseal hypertrophy in pregnancy refers to enlargement of the pituitary gland during pregnancy.

MRI studies indicate that the pituitary gland increases in volume by about 30% during pregnancy. It tends to bulge upward.

Rarely does the enlarged pituitary gland impinge on the optic chiasm and cause visual field changes. The pituitary returns to normal size after delivery. Despite the hyperplasia of the pituitary gland, there is no increased risk of pituitary tumors like a prolactinoma.