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Medicine Nov 2019Pituicytomas are exceptional rare tumors in the sellar and suprasellar regions with clinical manifestations, such as headache, visual disturbance, hypopituitarism, and... (Review)
Review
RATIONALE
Pituicytomas are exceptional rare tumors in the sellar and suprasellar regions with clinical manifestations, such as headache, visual disturbance, hypopituitarism, and decreased libido. Unlike that of common pituitary adenoma, the association between pituicytoma and Cushing disease (CD) is extremely rare. There were only 6 reported cases till now. In the current study, we describe an unusual case of pituicytoma associated with severe CD with a recurrence-free follow-up period of 49 months.
PATIENT CONCERNS
A 32-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with moon face, central obesity, and purple stripes on the lower limbs.
DIAGNOSES
The plasma cortisol level was 1122 nmol/L. The low-dose dexamethasone suppression test failed to suppress plasma cortisol. This test provided evidence of nonpituitary-dependent CD. However, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a sellar mass measuring approximately 7.6 × 5.7 mm. The patient was diagnosed with pituitary microadenoma. Histopathological analysis of the tissue sections based on the findings from the immunohistochemical staining diagnosed it as pituicytoma.
INTERVENTIONS
Transsphenoidal surgery was performed to remove the pituitary mass.
OUTCOMES
Within 2 months postoperatively, the patient's blood pressure and cortisol level decreased gradually and normalized on the 6th month when other symptoms of CD also disappeared. The patient is presently free from recurrence 49 months after the initial diagnosis.
LESSONS
Based on the postoperative remission, CD was caused by pituitary disorders. A reasonable assumption is that an extremely small coexisting adenoma was not detected by the surgeon and washed out during the dissection. Another possible explanation might be the mass effect caused by this intrasellar lesion.
Topics: Adenoma; Adult; Female; Humans; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion; Pituitary Neoplasms
PubMed: 31689841
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000017772 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Oct 2019The hypothalamus is the site of synthesis and secretion of a number of endocrine peptides that are involved in the regulation of hormonal activity of the pituitary and... (Review)
Review
The hypothalamus is the site of synthesis and secretion of a number of endocrine peptides that are involved in the regulation of hormonal activity of the pituitary and other endocrine targets. Tumors of the hypothalamus have been recognized to have both structural and functional effects including hormone hypersecretion. The classification of these tumors has advanced over the last few years, and biomarkers are now available to classify these tumors and provide accurate structure-function correlations. This review provides an overview of tumors in this region that is critical to metabolic homeostasis with a focus on advances in the diagnosis of gangliocytomas, neurocytomas, and pituicytomas that are unique to this region.
PubMed: 31635149
DOI: 10.3390/jcm8101741 -
Pituitary Dec 2019This case series evaluates the surgical management of granular cell tumor (GCT) of the sellar region. This rare entity presents a unique diagnostic and surgical...
PURPOSE
This case series evaluates the surgical management of granular cell tumor (GCT) of the sellar region. This rare entity presents a unique diagnostic and surgical challenge.
METHODS
Institutional neuropathology databases at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital were searched for cases with a tissue diagnosis of GCT, and with a location in the sellar region. Patient, treatment, tumor, and follow-up data were extracted.
RESULTS
Three patients had a diagnosis of GCT of the sellar region occurring over an 18-year period. All three patients were followed postoperatively at our multidisciplinary pituitary center (median follow-up = 30 months; range 12-30 months). Hormonal disturbances, an incidental lesion requiring diagnosis, and neurological symptoms were indications for surgery in these patients. Two patients underwent a craniotomy and one underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. All three patients were free of tumor recurrence at last follow-up. In one case tested, positive thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) immunohistochemistry was observed.
CONCLUSION
GCT is generally a benign tumor of the sellar region. Surgical resection is the standard treatment, more recently with transsphenoidal surgery when indicated. Surgical resection results in optimal outcome for patients.
Topics: Adult; Female; Granular Cell Tumor; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Pituitary Diseases; Pituitary Neoplasms
PubMed: 31620953
DOI: 10.1007/s11102-019-00999-z