[1] Sometimes it is used to treat Cushing's syndrome due to pituitary adenoma[2] or Simmond's disease[3] It is also applied in neurosciences (in experiments with lab animals) to understand the functioning of hypophysis.
Medications that are given as hormone replacement therapy following a complete hypophysectomy (removal of the pituitary gland) are often glucocorticoids.
Hypophysectomy performed at any age causes atrophy of the thyroid and adrenal glands as well as asthenia and cachexia.
When the procedure is performed before sexual maturity, the reproductive tract remains undeveloped and non-functional.
Post surgery, patients may have a severely altered self-image that may lead to an increased risk of suicide.