A patient presents with breast discharge, dysmenorrhea, and excessive excitability. Tests reveal that all pituitary hormones are elevated. What does the nurse suspect as the most likely cause for these assessment findings?

a. A pituitary adenoma
b. Hypothalamic hyposecretion
c. Hypothalamic inflammation
d. Pheochromocytoma


ANS: A
Hormonal effects of pituitary adenomas include hypersecretion from the adenoma itself and hy-posecretion from surrounding pituitary cells; in this case, prolactin would be elevated with the manifestation of menstrual irregularities and secretion from the breast.
These symptoms are not indicative of hypothalamic inflammation, which would lead to hypose-cretion. Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal gland and would be manifested by elevated blood pressure.

Health Professions

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