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Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America Apr 2022This article reviews the histopathology and classification of neoplasms that arise from the adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary), the neurohypophysis (posterior... (Review)
Review
This article reviews the histopathology and classification of neoplasms that arise from the adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary), the neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary) as well as other common miscellaneous lesions that arise within or secondarily involve the pituitary gland.
Topics: Adenoma; Craniopharyngioma; Humans; Pituitary Gland; Pituitary Neoplasms
PubMed: 35256168
DOI: 10.1016/j.otc.2021.12.003 -
Neuro Endocrinology Letters Nov 2021Pituicytomas (PTs) are rare and benign neoplasms. The variable imaging and clinical features of PTs, which overlap with other sellar pathologies, can make preoperative... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Pituicytomas (PTs) are rare and benign neoplasms. The variable imaging and clinical features of PTs, which overlap with other sellar pathologies, can make preoperative diagnosis challenging. In the interest of a more comprehensive understanding of the diagnostic aspects of PTs, it is necessary to report and synthesize the variable imaging and clinical features of PTs.
METHODS
We retrospectively included and analysed four pathologically proven PTs with unusual imaging and/or clinical features. Additionally, we reviewed the literature on PT between 2007 and 2019 in the PubMed database to provide context for the individual patient data described herein.
RESULTS
Our series included three female and one male adult patient (mean age: 44.75, age range: 20-56 y). Based on clinical symptoms, we noticed that case 1 had Cushing's syndrome, case 2 had increased prolactin, case 3 had extremity enlargement but with a normal level of human growth factor, and case 4 presented with tinnitus and dizziness. On radiograph, inconsistent with the main imaging findings of PTs in the literature, there was one case in the pituitary anterior lobe, three cases with hypointensity on T2-weighted images, two patients with reduced homogeneous contrast enhancement, and one case demonstrating invasion potential. In addition, one of our patients underwent PET-CT examination, and the lesion had a slight increase in glucose uptake and no significant decrease in ammonia uptake. Postoperative follow-up monitoring revealed no tumour recurrence.
CONCLUSION
Our cases highlight the unusual imaging manifestations of PTs. Recognizing these imaging features plays an important role in the preoperative diagnosis, treatment, and postsurgery monitoring of PTs.
Topics: Adult; Craniopharyngioma; Female; Glioma; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Pituitary Neoplasms; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult
PubMed: 34847317
DOI: No ID Found -
La Radiologia Medica Mar 2020Hypophysitis (HP) is a rare acute or chronic inflammatory condition of the pituitary gland. The greatest challenge in the management of HP is establishing a diagnosis... (Review)
Review
Hypophysitis (HP) is a rare acute or chronic inflammatory condition of the pituitary gland. The greatest challenge in the management of HP is establishing a diagnosis through clinical criteria and non-invasive methods and predicting the patients' clinical outcome. The aim of this review is to describe the neuroradiological findings of this rare disease, providing some information regarding the possible differential diagnosis in order to avoid unnecessary surgery. Gadolinium-enhanced pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the neuroradiological investigation of choice. The features suggestive for HP include an enlarged triangular- or dumbbell-shaped gland with a thickened and not obviously deviated stalk, further supported by the absence of posterior pituitary bright spot on T1weighted images, particularly in patients presenting with diabetes insipidus. Contrast enhancement pattern is quite variable; dural enhancement has been reported in some cases after intravenous contrast administration. The characterization of the unusual sellar mass is not straightforward and generally results in a wide differential. HP should be primarily differentiated from pituitary adenomas (including pituitary apoplexy), from pituitary metastases, and from other sellar and parasellar tumors, e.g., craniopharyngiomas, germinomas, gliomas, lymphomas, meningiomas, pituicytomas, chordomas, teratomas, dermoids and epidermoids, Rathke's cleft cysts, and abscesses. In patients suspected for secondary forms related to systemic pathology, additional imaging is helpful in identifying other involved sites. Neuroradiologists need to know MRI appearance of this rare disease, as well as its typical symptoms and serological markers. A strict collaboration with endocrinologists and neurosurgeons is mandatory in order to reach a definitive diagnosis, allowing to promptly initiating an appropriate treatment.
Topics: Adenoma; Autoimmune Hypophysitis; Contrast Media; Diagnosis, Differential; Gadolinium; Humans; Hypophysitis; Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neuroradiography; Pituitary Gland; Pituitary Neoplasms; Xanthomatosis
PubMed: 31863360
DOI: 10.1007/s11547-019-01120-x -
World Neurosurgery Apr 2020Pituicytoma is a rare neoplasm arising in the sellar region (World Health Organization grade I). Clinically, pituicytomas mimic nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas...
BACKGROUND
Pituicytoma is a rare neoplasm arising in the sellar region (World Health Organization grade I). Clinically, pituicytomas mimic nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas and are occasionally incidentally discovered at autopsy. Pituitary adenomas can occur with other sellar pathologies, and the term "collision sellar lesions" has been coined for this rare entity. There have only been a few reports of the coexistence of pituicytoma and pituitary adenoma. We present 2 cases of pituicytoma coexisting with acromegaly and Cushing disease.
CASE DESCRIPTION
Case 1: A 29-year-old woman had acromegaly. The macroadenoma was partially removed in her first surgery; thus an endonasal reoperation was required for debulking and posterior radiosurgery. Pituicytoma coexisting with somatotropinoma was diagnosed on pathologic examination. Case 2: A 33-year-old woman had adrenocorticotropic hormone-dependent Cushing disease. She underwent endonasal resection. Undetectable postoperative cortisol levels provided evidence that the underlying adrenocorticotropic hormone source was successfully removed. On the basis of morphologic features and the immunohistochemical profile, pituicytoma was diagnosed on pathologic examination. Pituitary adenoma was not confirmed histologically in this patient.
CONCLUSIONS
Only 117 cases of pituicytoma have been reported since it was first described in 1955. Before our report, only 5 cases of patients with pituicytoma coexisting with pituitary adenoma had been described. The coexistence of these 2 entities may not just be a mere coincidence but may be due to a yet unknown pathophysiologic link or common progenitor lineage of both lesions. Association between pituicytoma and pituitary adenoma is increasingly being reported.
Topics: Adult; Female; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion; Pituitary Gland, Posterior; Pituitary Neoplasms
PubMed: 31874293
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.12.085 -
Neurosurgery Apr 2021The pituitary gland is the site of numerous neoplastic and inflammatory processes. The overwhelmingly most frequent tumors arise from cells of the anterior lobe, the... (Review)
Review
The pituitary gland is the site of numerous neoplastic and inflammatory processes. The overwhelmingly most frequent tumors arise from cells of the anterior lobe, the pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs). Immunohistochemistry assay staining for pituitary hormones is the core tool for classifying PitNETs, resulting in the diagnosis of somatotroph PitNETs, lactotroph PitNETs, and so on. For cases showing no hormonal expression, the updated WHO classification system now considers the assessment of several transcription factors: PIT-1 (pituitary-specific POU-class homeodomain transcription factor); T-PIT (T-box family member TBX19); and SF-1 (steroidogenic factor regulating gonadotroph cell differentiation) before rendering a diagnosis of null cell adenoma. Other tumors and disease processes of this site often mimic PitNETs radiographically and sometimes even clinically (ie, compression of the optic chiasm). These potpourri of processes include germ cell neoplasms (especially germinomas), tumors that originate from Rathke's pouch (craniopharyngiomas, Rathke's cleft cyst), tumors that originate from the posterior lobe of the pituitary (pituicytoma, spindle cell oncocytoma, granular cell tumor), and tumors that originate from the meninges (especially meningiomas). In addition to neoplasms, several described inflammatory and related conditions exist that need to be distinguished from PitNETs. These include lymphocytic hypophysitis and Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a neoplastic disorder of histiocytes. In this review, we aim to briefly describe the main pituitary and sellar lesions, with emphasis on the most common tumors, the PitNETs.
Topics: Adenoma; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pituitary Gland; Pituitary Neoplasms; Young Adult
PubMed: 33476394
DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa548 -
Zhonghua Bing Li Xue Za Zhi = Chinese... Apr 2022To investigate the clinicopathological features and treatment strategies of pituicytoma. Twenty-one cases of pituicytoma were collected at the First Affiliated...
To investigate the clinicopathological features and treatment strategies of pituicytoma. Twenty-one cases of pituicytoma were collected at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and Jinling Hospital, Nanjing, China from 2009 to 2020. The clinical data of 21 pituicytoma patients was retrospectively analyzed, and the relevant literature was reviewed. Twenty-one patients aged 4 to 68 years, including 8 males and 13 females. All patients underwent surgical treatment. Histologically, the tumor was consisted almost entirely of elongate, bipolar spindle cells arranged in a fascicular or storiform pattern. Mitotic figures were rare. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were diffusely positive for S-100 protein (21/21), vimentin (15/15) and TTF1 (14/14), while they were weakly or focally positive for GFAP (13/16) and EMA (6/12). CKpan was negative in all cases and Ki-67 proliferation index was low (<5%). Among the 18 patients with follow-up, all survived and 2 relapsed after surgery. Pituicytoma is a rare low-grade glioma of the sellar area. It is easily confused with other sellar tumors. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult. It needs to be confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Microsurgery is the main treatment method at present.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Craniopharyngioma; Female; Glioma; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Pituitary Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult
PubMed: 35359042
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112151-20210818-00579 -
Diagnostic Cytopathology Apr 2020Pituicytoma is a rare tumor of the sella and suprasellar region. It is common for these tumors to be misdiagnosed radiographically as pituitary adenomas, meningiomas,... (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
BACKGROUND
Pituicytoma is a rare tumor of the sella and suprasellar region. It is common for these tumors to be misdiagnosed radiographically as pituitary adenomas, meningiomas, and craniopharyngiomas. Histologically, pituicytomas are also known to show variable morphology. These factors often complicate intraoperative consultation, especially when tissue is limited.
METHODS
A database search (January 1990-June 2019) identified 13 surgically resected pituicytomas that were sent for intraoperative consultation. The intraoperative cytology was reviewed by two pathologists, and both squash preparations/smears and touch preparations were included.
RESULTS
The cytological features of pituicytomas were variable. The cytoplasm ranged from fibrillary to fine and wispy. The nuclei were round to ovoid with occasional tumors showing spindled morphology. Small nucleoli were seen in all tumors, and chromatin was fine to vesicular. While squash preparations were cellular and revealed cohesive groups of tumor cells, touch preparations were often paucicellular with the exception of one tumor. The cytological features of pituicytomas are compared to those of other tumors with similar radiographic appearances.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings illustrate the range of cytological features of these rare tumors and highlight the difficulty in making a definitive intraoperative diagnosis. Pituicytomas should be considered in the differential of a sellar/suprasellar lesion with glial and meningioma-like cytological features.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Intraoperative Care; Male; Middle Aged; Pituitary Neoplasms
PubMed: 31883319
DOI: 10.1002/dc.24372 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Aug 2022(1) Background: Pituicytomas are rare gliomas located in the neurohypophysis or infundibulum. A misdiagnosis of pituicytoma as pituitary adenoma is common because of...
(1) Background: Pituicytomas are rare gliomas located in the neurohypophysis or infundibulum. A misdiagnosis of pituicytoma as pituitary adenoma is common because of similar location and occasional endocrine disturbances. (2) Case presentation: We present two cases with the comorbidity of pituicytoma and Cushing's disease (CD). Case 1 is that of a 51-year-old woman, the first reported case of the comorbidity of pituicytoma, CD, and central diabetes insipidus. She received a diagnosis of CD and central diabetes insipidus. After transsphenoidal surgery, histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of pituicytoma and adrenocorticotropin-secreting microadenoma; case 2 is that of a 29-year-old man who received a biochemical diagnosis of CD, but he received a histopathological confirmation of only pituicytoma. Both patients achieved a remission of hypercortisolism without relapse during the follow-up, but they developed hypopituitarism after surgery. We also reviewed all published 18 cases with the comorbidity of pituicytoma and any pituitary adenoma. (3) Conclusions: Pituicytoma might present pituitary hyperfunction disorders such as CD or acromegaly, with or without pathologically confirmed pituitary adenoma. CD is the most common hyperpituitarism occurring concurrently with pituicytomas. The remission rate and hypopituitarism after surgery seem similar or slightly lower in CD than in common pituitary adenomas, but the long-term prognosis is unexplored.
PubMed: 36013043
DOI: 10.3390/jcm11164805 -
Hormones (Athens, Greece) Dec 2022Multiple tumorous lesions in one pituitary gland are rare and mostly described in case reports. Their incidences and combinations are defined in larger collectives....
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE
Multiple tumorous lesions in one pituitary gland are rare and mostly described in case reports. Their incidences and combinations are defined in larger collectives. Therefore, we analyzed our large collection for double tumors and combinations of tumors, cysts, and inflammation.
METHODS
The German Registry of Pituitary Tumors, including cases from 1990 to 2018, served as the database. Our collection comprises a total of 16,283 cases up until the end of 2018. Of these cases, 12,673 originated from surgical and 3,610 from autopsy material. All specimens were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. The sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and PAS. Monoclonal (prolactin, TSH, FSH, LH, and α subunit) or polyclonal (GH and ACTH) antibodies were used to detect pituitary hormones in the lesions. Since 2017, antibodies against the transcription factors Pit-1, T-Pit, and SF-1 have been used in difficult cases. The criteria of the 2017 WHO classification have been basic principles for classification since 2018 (Osamura et al. 2017). For differentiation of other sellar tumors, such as meningiomas, chordomas, or metastases, the use of additional antibodies was necessary. For these cases, it was possible to use a broad antibody spectrum. Autopsy pituitaries were generally studied by H&E and PAS sections. If any lesions were demonstrated in these specimens, additional immunostaining was performed.
RESULTS
Multiple tumorous lesions with more than one pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET) respectively adenoma make up 1.4% (232 cases) in our collection. Within the selected cases, synchronous multiple pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) account for 17.3%, PANCH cases (pituitary adenoma with neuronal choristoma) for 14.7%, PitNETs and posterior lobe tumors for 2.2%, PitNETs and metastases for 5.2%, PitNETs and mesenchymal tumors for 2.6%, PitNETs and cysts for 52.2%, and PitNETs and primary inflammation for 6.0%. The mean patient age was 53.8 years, with a standard deviation of 18.5 years. A total of 55.3% of the patients were female and 44.7% were male. From 1990 to 2018, there was a continuous increase in the number of multiple tumorous lesions.
CONCLUSION
From our studies, we conclude that considering possible tumorous double lesions during surgeries and in preoperative X-ray analyses is recommended.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Pituitary Neoplasms; Pituitary Gland; Adenoma; Pituitary Diseases; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; Cysts; Inflammation
PubMed: 35947342
DOI: 10.1007/s42000-022-00392-9 -
Neurology India 2021
Review
Topics: Craniopharyngioma; Glioma; Humans; Male; Pituitary Neoplasms
PubMed: 34979717
DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.333522