The assessment of pituitary function.
The assessment of pituitary function can now be carried out quickly and accurately by means of outpatient testing procedures and hormone immunoassays. Improvements in assay methodology have resulted in greater specificity and sensitivity although some technical problems remain. The diagnosis of patients with functioning and nonfunctioning pituitary tumors, hypopituitarism and target gland disorders is discussed with particular reference to diagnostic difficulties and recent advances.
Department of Endocrinology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Christchurch School of Medicine, New Zealand.
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Donald
D006801:Humans; D010901:Pituitary Function Tests; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology