Final answer:
Secretory adenomas, causing hyperpituitarism, are typically diagnosed through clinical evaluation and laboratory tests. Elevated hormone levels indicate hypersecretion, a common symptom of these tumors. Treatments can include surgery or hormone therapies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The diagnosis of secretory adenomas, which can lead to hyperpituitarism, relies on both clinical assessments and laboratory tests. Since these adenomas are tumors that can cause excessive hormone secretion, patients may present with various symptoms depending on the hormone involved. For instance, a pituitary tumor causing an overproduction of ACTH can lead to Cushing's syndrome, characterized by obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Endocrinologists may order blood tests to measure hormone levels and determine their abnormality.
In certain cases, they might perform stimulation or suppression tests on specific endocrine glands, to analyze the hormonal response. For example, excess growth hormone secretion can cause gigantism if the condition begins in childhood, as seen in the Civil War-era figure Martin Van Buren Bates. Treatment for such disorders varies; it may include lifestyle modifications, hormone replacement therapy, or surgery.