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POSTERIOR PITUITARY
Hypothalamus make hormones in he hypothalamus store in axon
terminal in posterior pituitary when stimulated secrete 2
peptide hormones
Hypopituitarism
ischemic injury, surgery or radiation
inflammatory reactions
nonfunctional pituitary adenomas
Pituitary Adenoma
most common cause of hyperpituitarism
anterior lobe
functional or nonfunctional
common cause of hyperpituitarism
peak incidence from 35 to 60 years of age
microadenomas (<1 cm in diameter) or macroadenomas (>1 cm in diameter ,
silent and hormone-negative)
classified on the basis of hormone(s) produced by the neoplastic cells,
detected by immunohistochemical stains.
Pituitary Adenomas
Genetic alteration
Sporadic (95%)
G-protein mutations in the alpha subunit that interferes with
its intrinsic GTpase activity
Familial
MEN1, CDKN1B, PRKAR1A, and AIP
Molecular abnormalities associated with aggressive behavior:
over expression of cyclin D1
mutations of p53
epigenetic silencing of the retinoblastoma gene (RB1)
Pituitary Adenoma Morphology
Soft, well circumscribed
When infiltrate neighboring tissues, are called invasive adenomas
Composed of sheets/cords of uniform polygonal cells with absent reticulin
network (in contrast to normal pituitary)
Atypical adenomas if brisk mitotic activity and extensive nuclear p53
immunoreactivity, exhibit aggressive behavior
Lacks reticulum in this tumor
Large non functioning tumor
There is just one uniform population of cells
Somatotropinoma
Second most common type
Excessive GH (stimulates hepatic secretion of IGF-1)
Children gigantism
Adults- acromegaly
Treatment surgery or somatostatin analogs
Bihormonal adenomas
PRL and G cells
Nonfunctioning adenomas
25-30% of all pituitary tumors
Typical presentation is mass effect
Hypopituitarism
ischemic injury, surgery or radiation
inflammatory reactions
nonfunctional pituitary adenomas
at least 75% of parenchyma is lost
mostly because of destructive process
tumors and other mass lesions
traumatic brain injury
Surgery or radiation
Pituitary apoplexy (sudden hemorrhage)
Ischemic necrosis
- DIC, Sickle cell anemia, Sheehan syndrome (postpartum necrosis of
anterior pituitary)
Empty sella syndrome (enlarged empty ,sella turcica)
Inflammatory disorders/infections
Hypothalamic lesions
Clinical manifestations
GH deficiency dwarfism
LH and FSH deficiency- amenorrhea, infertility and others
TSH deficiency hypothyroidism
ACTH deficiency hypoadrenalism
Prolactin deficiency- failure of postpartum lactation
Lesions of hypothalamus
Disruption of function of hypothalamic/pituitary axis
Hypopituitarism
Hyperprolactinemia
Neurologic
Visual field defects
Hypothalamic suprasellar tumors
Clinically significant because may cause
Hypofunction or hyperfunction of anterior pituitary
Diabetes insipidus
Includes
Gliomas
Craniopharyngiomas rare, slow growing tumor
Craniopharyngioma**
slow-growing, accounts for 1-5% of intracranial tumors.
bimodal age distribution
commonly cystic and multiloculated
arises from remnants of the craniopharyngeal duct and/or Rathke
cleft
Pineal gland
100-180 mg pine cone shaped, located near the center of the brain, between
the two hemispheres.
pineal gland is a midline structure, and is often seen in plain skull X-rays as it
is often calcified.
The pineal body consists of a lobular parenchyma of epithelial pinealocytes
and glia.
Produces
Melatonin, a serotonin derived molecule that inhibits GnRH release.
Blood levels highest in dark
*Know that its for melatonin * to help you sleep
Pineal lesions
Endocrine
Precocious puberty due to melatonin deficiency
Neurologic
increased intracranial pressure due to mass effect
Non neoplastic cysts
Germ cell neoplasms
Pineal parenchymal tumors
Hormone
Tumor type
Ass. Syndrome
Corticotroph
ACTH and
other POMCderived
peptides
Cushing Syndrome
Somatotroph
GH
GH cell adenoma
Gigantism
Acromegaly
Lactotroph
Prolactin
Mammosomatotroph
Prolactin, GH
Mammosomatotroph
Combined
Gonadotroph
FSH, LH
Null cell/oncocytic
adenoma
Hypogonadism, mass
effects, hypopituitarism
Thyrotroph
TSH
Hyperthyroidism
Blue- hypothalamus
Pink-anterior hormones