PITUITARY

Pituitary adenoma.

Thompson LD.

Ear Nose Throat J. 2006 Mar;85(3):152-3.

FIRST PARAGRAPH: Pituitary tumors account for approximately 15% of all intracranial neoplasms. They can be either benign or malignant, primary or secondary, and epithelial or nonepithelial. Pituitary carcinoma can only be diagnosed when there is confirmed metastatic disease. The vast majority are primary epithelial pituitary adenomas, which generally arise from hormone-producing cells, regardless of whether a particular tumor is active or inactive (i.e., non-hormone-producing). Pituitary adenomas are further classified on the basis of size, function, cell type, hormone production, location, and biologic behavior. Most pituitary adenomas are benign neoplasms, either null-cell or prolactin-producing microadenomas (<1 cm in their greatest dimension -- usually seen radiographically) that are seen within the pituitary gland. Most pituitary adenomas occur in women; they can arise at any age, but they are more common in the third through sixth decades of life. Patients with a pituitary adenoma present with either an endocrinopathy or a mass effect. Nonfunctioning adenomas exhibit no biochemical or clinical evidence of excessive hormone production. Patients with functional tumors present with specific syndromes, such as Cushing’s syndrome (adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing).

PMID: 16615592

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