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JAMA Apr 2023Pituitary adenomas are neoplasms of the pituitary adenohypophyseal cell lineage and include functioning tumors, characterized by the secretion of pituitary hormones, and... (Review)
Review
IMPORTANCE
Pituitary adenomas are neoplasms of the pituitary adenohypophyseal cell lineage and include functioning tumors, characterized by the secretion of pituitary hormones, and nonfunctioning tumors. Clinically evident pituitary adenomas occur in approximately 1 in 1100 persons.
OBSERVATIONS
Pituitary adenomas are classified as either macroadenomas (≥10 mm) (48% of tumors) or microadenomas (<10 mm). Macroadenomas may cause mass effect, such as visual field defects, headache, and/or hypopituitarism, which occur in about 18% to 78%, 17% to 75%, and 34% to 89% of patients, respectively. Thirty percent of pituitary adenomas are nonfunctioning adenomas, which do not produce hormones. Functioning tumors are those that produce an excess of normally produced hormones and include prolactinomas, somatotropinomas, corticotropinomas, and thyrotropinomas, which produce prolactin, growth hormone, corticotropin, and thyrotropin, respectively. Approximately 53% of pituitary adenomas are prolactinomas, which can cause hypogonadism, infertility, and/or galactorrhea. Twelve percent are somatotropinomas, which cause acromegaly in adults and gigantism in children, and 4% are corticotropinomas, which secrete corticotropin autonomously, resulting in hypercortisolemia and Cushing disease. All patients with pituitary tumors require endocrine evaluation for hormone hypersecretion. Patients with macroadenomas additionally require evaluation for hypopituitarism, and patients with tumors compressing the optic chiasm should be referred to an ophthalmologist for formal visual field testing. For those requiring treatment, first-line therapy is usually transsphenoidal pituitary surgery, except for prolactinomas, for which medical therapy, either bromocriptine or cabergoline, is usually first line.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Clinically manifest pituitary adenomas affect approximately 1 in 1100 people and can be complicated by syndromes of hormone excess as well as visual field defects and hypopituitarism from mass effect in larger tumors. First-line therapy for prolactinomas consists of bromocriptine or cabergoline, and transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is first-line therapy for other pituitary adenomas requiring treatment.
Topics: Adult; Child; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Adenoma; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Bromocriptine; Cabergoline; Human Growth Hormone; Hypopituitarism; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prolactinoma
PubMed: 37097352
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.5444 -
Endocrine Reviews Nov 2022All endocrine glands are susceptible to neoplastic growth, yet the health consequences of these neoplasms differ between endocrine tissues. Pituitary neoplasms are... (Review)
Review
All endocrine glands are susceptible to neoplastic growth, yet the health consequences of these neoplasms differ between endocrine tissues. Pituitary neoplasms are highly prevalent and overwhelmingly benign, exhibiting a spectrum of diverse behaviors and impact on health. To understand the clinical biology of these common yet often innocuous neoplasms, we review pituitary physiology and adenoma epidemiology, pathophysiology, behavior, and clinical consequences. The anterior pituitary develops in response to a range of complex brain signals integrating with intrinsic ectodermal cell transcriptional events that together determine gland growth, cell type differentiation, and hormonal production, in turn maintaining optimal endocrine health. Pituitary adenomas occur in 10% of the population; however, the overwhelming majority remain harmless during life. Triggered by somatic or germline mutations, disease-causing adenomas manifest pathogenic mechanisms that disrupt intrapituitary signaling to promote benign cell proliferation associated with chromosomal instability. Cellular senescence acts as a mechanistic buffer protecting against malignant transformation, an extremely rare event. It is estimated that fewer than one-thousandth of all pituitary adenomas cause clinically significant disease. Adenomas variably and adversely affect morbidity and mortality depending on cell type, hormone secretory activity, and growth behavior. For most clinically apparent adenomas, multimodal therapy controlling hormone secretion and adenoma growth lead to improved quality of life and normalized mortality. The clinical biology of pituitary adenomas, and particularly their benign nature, stands in marked contrast to other tumors of the endocrine system, such as thyroid and neuroendocrine tumors.
Topics: Humans; Pituitary Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Adenoma; Biology; Hormones
PubMed: 35395078
DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnac010 -
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of... Apr 2022Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy in the U.S. and worldwide. Most CRC cases arise from precancerous adenomatous and serrated polyps. Established risk... (Review)
Review
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy in the U.S. and worldwide. Most CRC cases arise from precancerous adenomatous and serrated polyps. Established risk factors for conventional adenomas and CRC include age, male sex, family history, obesity and physical inactivity, and red meat intake. White race and tobacco and alcohol use are important risk factors for serrated polyps, which have a distinct risk factor profile compared to conventional adenomas. A history of abdominopelvic radiation, acromegaly, hereditary hemochromatosis, or prior ureterosigmoidostomy also increases CRC risk. Understanding these risk factors allows for targeted screening of high-risk groups to reduce CRC incidence.
Topics: Adenoma; Colonic Polyps; Colorectal Neoplasms; Humans; Incidence; Male; Risk Factors
PubMed: 35361331
DOI: 10.1016/j.giec.2021.12.008 -
Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of... Sep 2020Pituitary adenomas are usually nonmalignant, but have a heavy burden on patients and health care systems. Increased availability of MRI has led to an increase in... (Review)
Review
Pituitary adenomas are usually nonmalignant, but have a heavy burden on patients and health care systems. Increased availability of MRI has led to an increase in incidentally found pituitary lesions and clinically relevant pituitary adenomas. Epidemiologic studies show that pituitary adenomas are increasing in incidence (between 3.9 and 7.4 cases per 100,000 per year) and prevalence (76 to 116 cases per 100,000 population) in the general population (approximately 1 case per 1000 of the general population). Most new cases diagnosed are prolactinomas and nonsecreting pituitary adenomas. Most clinically relevant pituitary adenomas occur in females, but pituitary adenomas are clinically heterogeneous.
Topics: Adenoma; Humans; Incidence; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prevalence
PubMed: 32741475
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecl.2020.04.002 -
JAMA Feb 2017Pituitary adenomas may hypersecrete hormones or cause mass effects. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are important. (Review)
Review
IMPORTANCE
Pituitary adenomas may hypersecrete hormones or cause mass effects. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are important.
OBSERVATIONS
Prevalence of pituitary adenomas ranges from 1 in 865 adults to 1 in 2688 adults. Approximately 50% are microadenomas (<10 mm); the remainder are macroadenomas (≥10 mm). Mass effects cause headache, hypopituitarism, and visual field defects. Treatments include transsphenoidal surgery, medical therapies, and radiotherapy. Prolactinomas account for 32% to 66% of adenomas and present with amenorrhea, loss of libido, galactorrhea, and infertility in women and loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and infertility in men; they are generally treated with the dopamine agonists cabergoline and bromocriptine. Growth hormone-secreting tumors account for 8% to 16% of tumors and usually present with enlargement of the lips, tongue, nose, hands, and feet and are diagnosed by elevated insulin-like growth factor 1 levels and growth hormone levels; initial treatment is surgical. Medical therapy with somatostatin analogues, cabergoline, and pegvisomant is often also needed. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting tumors account for 2% to 6% of adenomas and are associated with obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and other morbidity. Measurement of a late-night salivary cortisol level is the best screening test but petrosal sinus sampling for ACTH may be necessary to distinguish a pituitary from an ectopic source. The primary treatment of Cushing disease (hypercortisolism due to ACTH-producing adenomas, which is the cause in approximately 65% of the cases of hypercortisolism) is adenoma resection and medical therapies including ketoconazole, mifepristone, and pasireotide. Hyperthyroidism due to thyroid-stimulating hormone-secreting tumors accounts for 1% of tumors and is treated with surgery and somatostatin analogues if not surgically cured. Clinically nonfunctioning adenomas account for 15% to 54% of adenomas and present with mass effects; surgery is generally required, although incidentally found tumors can be followed if they are asymptomatic.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Patients with pituitary adenomas should be identified at an early stage so that effective treatment can be implemented. For prolactinomas, initial therapy is generally dopamine agonists. For all other pituitary adenomas, initial therapy is generally transsphenoidal surgery with medical therapy being reserved for those not cured by surgery.
Topics: Adenoma; Female; Hormone Antagonists; Humans; Male; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prolactinoma
PubMed: 28170483
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2016.19699 -
Clinics in Liver Disease Aug 2020Focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatocellular adenoma are benign liver lesions that occur most frequently in women and may be found as incidental findings on imaging.... (Review)
Review
Focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatocellular adenoma are benign liver lesions that occur most frequently in women and may be found as incidental findings on imaging. hepatocellular adenomas may be infrequently associated with malignant progression or risk of rupture and as such, require surveillance or definitive treatments based on their size threshold. It is important clinically to differentiate these lesions, and utilizing imaging modalities such as contrast enhanced ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging can be helpful in diagnosis. Further molecular subtyping of hepatocellular adenoma lesions may be beneficial to describe risk factors and potential future clinical complications.
Topics: Adenoma; Female; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Liver Transplantation; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic
PubMed: 32620279
DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2020.04.013 -
Veterinary Journal (London, England :... Apr 2021Pituitary tumours are common in dogs and are being increasingly recognized in cats. Pituitary tumours are usually classified as adenomas and should only be classified as... (Review)
Review
Pituitary tumours are common in dogs and are being increasingly recognized in cats. Pituitary tumours are usually classified as adenomas and should only be classified as carcinomas when there is evidence of metastatic spread of the tumour, which is rare. Despite the benign nature of most pituitary tumours, they can still compress or invade neighbouring tissues. Pituitary tumours can be functional (hormonally active) or non-functional (hormonally silent). The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the different pituitary tumour types in dogs and cats that have been reported in the literature. In dogs, the most common pituitary tumour type is the corticotroph adenoma, which can cause pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism. In cats, the most common pituitary tumour is the somatotroph adenoma, which can cause hypersomatotropism, and the second-most common is the corticotroph adenoma. A lactotroph adenoma has been described in one dog, while gonadotroph, thyrotroph and null cell adenomas have not been described in dogs or cats. Hormonally silent adenomas are likely underdiagnosed because they do not result in an endocrine syndrome. Tools used to classify pituitary tumours in humans, particularly immunohistochemistry for lineage-specific transcription factors, are likely to be useful to classify canine and feline pituitary tumours of unknown origin. Future studies are required to better understand the full range of pituitary adenoma pathology in dogs and cats and to determine whether certain adenoma subtypes behave more aggressively than others. Currently, the mechanisms that underlie pituitary tumorigenesis in dogs and cats are still largely unknown. A better understanding of the molecular background of these tumours could help to identify improved pituitary-targeted therapeutics.
Topics: ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma; Adenoma; Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Pituitary Neoplasms
PubMed: 33641809
DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2021.105623 -
Pituitary Jun 2023The majority of corticotroph adenomas are benign but some are locally invasive, demonstrate high rates of recurrence, and exhibit a relatively poor response to often... (Review)
Review
The majority of corticotroph adenomas are benign but some are locally invasive, demonstrate high rates of recurrence, and exhibit a relatively poor response to often repeated surgical, medical, and radiation treatment. Herein, we summarize the currently known somatic and genetic mutations and other molecular factors that influence the pathogenesis of these tumors and discuss currently available therapies. Although recent molecular studies have advanced our understanding of the pathogenesis and behavior of these refractory corticotroph adenomas, these insights do not reliably guide treatment choices at present. Development of additional diagnostic tools and novel tumor-directed therapies that offer efficacious treatment choices for patients with refractory corticotroph adenomas are needed.
Topics: Humans; ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma; Adenoma; Pituitary Neoplasms
PubMed: 36917358
DOI: 10.1007/s11102-023-01308-5 -
Endocrine May 2023Targets of acromegaly treatment are normalization of biochemical values, removal/reduction/stabilization of the pituitary mass, control of clinical activity and...
BACKGROUND
Targets of acromegaly treatment are normalization of biochemical values, removal/reduction/stabilization of the pituitary mass, control of clinical activity and mortality with a multimodal/multidisciplinary approach. Despite significant technological and pharmacological progress, still several patients with acromegaly bear a resistant somatotroph adenoma and active disease may persist for many years with resultant poor clinical outcomes.
AIM
To review briefly definition and pathophysiology of resistance to acromegaly treatment and the options of medical treatment in this context, exploring the role of novel clinical and molecular biomarkers in the personalization of therapy and proposing updates to the currently available guidelines for the treatment of resistant GH-secreting adenomas.
CONCLUSIONS
In the last few years, in parallel with the increased number of medical options available for the therapy of acromegaly, relevant advances occurred in the understanding of the role of novel molecular and clinical biomarkers in predicting the responsiveness to second-line medical treatments, such as Pegvisomant and Pasireotide LAR, and helping clinicians in the personalization of the follow-up and treatment of resistant somatotroph adenomas. The integration of these findings into the existing guidelines may represent a possibly important step forward in the management of "difficult" acromegaly patients.
Topics: Humans; Acromegaly; Treatment Outcome; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma; Adenoma; Human Growth Hormone; Biomarkers; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
PubMed: 36790521
DOI: 10.1007/s12020-023-03317-7 -
Child's Nervous System : ChNS :... Nov 2019Pediatric pituitary adenomas are a rare medical entity that makes up a small portion of intracranial tumors in children and adolescents. Although benign, the majority of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Pediatric pituitary adenomas are a rare medical entity that makes up a small portion of intracranial tumors in children and adolescents. Although benign, the majority of these lesions are secreting functional tumors with the potential for physiological sequela that can profoundly affect a child's development.
FOCUS OF REVIEW
In this review, we discuss the medical and surgical management of these tumors with a focus on clinical presentation, diagnostic identification, surgical approach, and associated adjuvant therapies. We will also discuss our current treatment paradigm using endoscopic, open, and combined approaches to treat these tumors. The management of pituitary tumors requires a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, endocrinologists, and neuroanesthesiologists as well as neurocritical care specialists to deliver comprehensive care.
Topics: ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma; Adenoma; Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Craniotomy; Dopamine Agonists; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma; Humans; Microsurgery; Nasal Cavity; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery; Neuroendoscopy; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prolactinoma; Sphenoid Bone
PubMed: 31302729
DOI: 10.1007/s00381-019-04293-y