The anterior pituitary secretes a number of hormones including:

• Growth hormone
  Growth hormone
  Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...
  
   (GH)
• Prolactin
  Prolactin
  Prolactin also known as luteotropic hormone is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PRL gene.Prolactin is a peptide hormone discovered by Henry Friesen...
  
   (PRL)
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone
  Thyroid-stimulating hormone
  Thyrotrophin-stimulating hormone is a peptide hormone synthesized and secreted by thyrotrope cells in the anterior pituitary gland, which regulates the endocrine function of the thyroid gland.- Physiology :...
  
   (TSH)
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone
  Adrenocorticotropic hormone
  Adrenocorticotropic hormone , also known as 'corticotropin', 'Adrenocorticotrophic hormone', is a polypeptide tropic hormone produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It is an important component of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and is often produced in response to biological...
  
   (ACTH)
• Melanocyte-stimulating hormone
  Melanocyte-stimulating hormone
  The melanocyte-stimulating hormones are a class of peptide hormones that are produced by cells in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland...
  
   (MSH) (not produced in humans )
• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
• Luteinizing hormone
  Luteinizing hormone
  Luteinizing hormone is a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland. In females, an acute rise of LH called the LH surge triggers ovulation and development of the corpus luteum. In males, where LH had also been called interstitial cell-stimulating hormone , it stimulates Leydig cell...
  
   (LH)

Although theoretically a tumour could secrete any of these hormones, the common tumours secrete growth hormone (see acromegaly

Acromegaly

Acromegaly is a syndrome that results when the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone after epiphyseal plate closure at puberty...

), prolactin (see prolactinoma

Prolactinoma

A prolactinoma is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that produces a hormone called prolactin. It is the most common type of pituitary tumor...

 and hyperprolactinaemia

Hyperprolactinaemia

Hyperprolactinaemia or hyperprolactinemia is the presence of abnormally-high levels of prolactin in the blood. Normal levels are less than 500 mIU/L for women, and less than 450 mIU/L for men....

), mixed secretions or no secretion at all.

Once tumours were categorised by their light microscopic appearance but now tumours are more reliably categorised by immunoperoxidase

Immunoperoxidase

Immunoperoxidase is a type of immunostain used in molecular biology, medical research, and clinical diagnostics. In particular, immunoperoxidase reactions refer to a sub-class of immunohistochemical or immunocytochemical procedures in which the antibodies are visualized via a peroxidase-catalyzed...

 studies.

Blood tests for the hormones are important diagnostic tools.

CT scans, MRI and other imaging techniques are important for determining size (and seriousness of tumours), growth over time and treatment options.

Most tumours are benign but are quite serious because of their position close to important brain structures.

Treatment includes:

• Bromocriptine
  Bromocriptine
  Bromocriptine , an ergoline derivative, is a dopamine agonist that is used in the treatment of pituitary tumors, Parkinson's disease , hyperprolactinaemia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and type 2 diabetes.- Indications :Amenorrhea, female infertility, galactorrhea, hypogonadism, and acromegaly...
  
  
• Surgical removal
• Ablation by radiotherapy