A pituitary carcinoma secreting TSH and prolactin: a non-secreting adenoma gone awry. 2006

Rebecca L Brown, and Tariq Muzzafar, and Robert Wollman, and Roy E Weiss
Thyroid Study Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, 5841 S Maryland Ave, Mail Code 3090, Chicago, Illinois 60645, USA.

To our knowledge, only one case of a TSH-secreting carcinoma has previously been reported. We describe here a second patient with a pituitary carcinoma producing TSH and prolactin (PRL). A 37-year-old male underwent a left frontotemporal craniotomy in 1996 for a sellar mass. Except for mildly increased PRL and elevated alpha-subunit, hormone evaluation was normal. Pathologic examination revealed a chromophobe adenoma with increased mitotic forms. The patient completed a course of external beam radiation to the pituitary and was prescribed l-thyroxine, bromocriptine, and hydrocortisone. He was lost to follow-up but did well for 6 years, until 2002, when he presented with TSH-dependent thyrotoxicosis and hyperprolactinemia. The patient was started on bromocriptine and propylthiouracil and was, again, lost to follow-up. In 2004, 9 years after his initial presentation, he presented after falling. Magnetic resonance imaging showed two brain masses with associated midline shift. Emergent resection of the larger mass revealed a pituitary cancer with positive staining for PRL, but not for TSH. Nine months later, the patient underwent further debulking of metastatic disease. Although development of a carcinoma from a pituitary adenoma is very rare (<0.5%), macroadenomas that become hormonally active should be suspect for transformation into pituitary cancer.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008279 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Non-invasive method of demonstrating internal anatomy based on the principle that atomic nuclei in a strong magnetic field absorb pulses of radiofrequency energy and emit them as radiowaves which can be reconstructed into computerized images. The concept includes proton spin tomographic techniques. Chemical Shift Imaging,MR Tomography,MRI Scans,MRI, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Image,Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Functional,Magnetization Transfer Contrast Imaging,NMR Imaging,NMR Tomography,Tomography, NMR,Tomography, Proton Spin,fMRI,Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Imaging, Chemical Shift,Proton Spin Tomography,Spin Echo Imaging,Steady-State Free Precession MRI,Tomography, MR,Zeugmatography,Chemical Shift Imagings,Echo Imaging, Spin,Echo Imagings, Spin,Functional MRI,Functional MRIs,Image, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, NMR,Imaging, Spin Echo,Imagings, Chemical Shift,Imagings, Spin Echo,MRI Scan,MRIs, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Images,Resonance Image, Magnetic,Scan, MRI,Scans, MRI,Shift Imaging, Chemical,Shift Imagings, Chemical,Spin Echo Imagings,Steady State Free Precession MRI
D008297 Male Males
D010911 Pituitary Neoplasms Neoplasms which arise from or metastasize to the PITUITARY GLAND. The majority of pituitary neoplasms are adenomas, which are divided into non-secreting and secreting forms. Hormone producing forms are further classified by the type of hormone they secrete. Pituitary adenomas may also be characterized by their staining properties (see ADENOMA, BASOPHIL; ADENOMA, ACIDOPHIL; and ADENOMA, CHROMOPHOBE). Pituitary tumors may compress adjacent structures, including the HYPOTHALAMUS, several CRANIAL NERVES, and the OPTIC CHIASM. Chiasmal compression may result in bitemporal HEMIANOPSIA. Pituitary Cancer,Cancer of Pituitary,Cancer of the Pituitary,Pituitary Adenoma,Pituitary Carcinoma,Pituitary Tumors,Adenoma, Pituitary,Adenomas, Pituitary,Cancer, Pituitary,Cancers, Pituitary,Carcinoma, Pituitary,Carcinomas, Pituitary,Neoplasm, Pituitary,Neoplasms, Pituitary,Pituitary Adenomas,Pituitary Cancers,Pituitary Carcinomas,Pituitary Neoplasm,Pituitary Tumor,Tumor, Pituitary,Tumors, Pituitary
D011388 Prolactin A lactogenic hormone secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). It is a polypeptide of approximately 23 kD. Besides its major action on lactation, in some species prolactin exerts effects on reproduction, maternal behavior, fat metabolism, immunomodulation and osmoregulation. Prolactin receptors are present in the mammary gland, hypothalamus, liver, ovary, testis, and prostate. Lactogenic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropin,PRL (Prolactin),Hormone, Pituitary Lactogenic,Hormone, Pituitary Mammotropic,Pituitary Lactogenic Hormone,Pituitary Mammotropic Hormone
D002454 Cell Differentiation Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs. Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D013972 Thyrotropin A glycoprotein hormone secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). Thyrotropin stimulates THYROID GLAND by increasing the iodide transport, synthesis and release of thyroid hormones (THYROXINE and TRIIODOTHYRONINE). Thyrotropin consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is common in the pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH; LUTEINIZING HORMONE and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity. Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone,TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone),Thyreotropin,Thyrotrophin,Hormone, Thyroid-Stimulating,Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
D015175 Prolactinoma A pituitary adenoma which secretes PROLACTIN, leading to HYPERPROLACTINEMIA. Clinical manifestations include AMENORRHEA; GALACTORRHEA; IMPOTENCE; HEADACHE; visual disturbances; and CEREBROSPINAL FLUID RHINORRHEA. Adenoma, Prolactin-Secreting, Pituitary,PRL-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma,Pituitary Adenoma, Prolactin-Secreting,Lactotroph Adenoma,Macroprolactinoma,Microprolactinoma,Prolactin-Producing Pituitary Adenoma,Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma,Prolactinoma, Familial,Adenoma, Lactotroph,Adenomas, Lactotroph,Lactotroph Adenomas,Macroprolactinomas,Microprolactinomas,PRL Secreting Pituitary Adenoma,PRL-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas,Pituitary Adenoma, PRL-Secreting,Pituitary Adenoma, Prolactin Secreting,Pituitary Adenoma, Prolactin-Producing,Pituitary Adenomas, PRL-Secreting,Pituitary Adenomas, Prolactin-Producing,Pituitary Adenomas, Prolactin-Secreting,Prolactin Producing Pituitary Adenoma,Prolactin Secreting Pituitary Adenoma,Prolactin-Producing Pituitary Adenomas,Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas,Prolactinomas
D018450 Disease Progression The worsening and general progression of a disease over time. This concept is most often used for chronic and incurable diseases where the stage of the disease is an important determinant of therapy and prognosis. Clinical Course,Clinical Progression,Disease Exacerbation,Exacerbation, Disease,Progression, Clinical,Progression, Disease

Related Publications

Rebecca L Brown, and Tariq Muzzafar, and Robert Wollman, and Roy E Weiss
July 2009, The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India,
Rebecca L Brown, and Tariq Muzzafar, and Robert Wollman, and Roy E Weiss
May 2006, Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine,
Rebecca L Brown, and Tariq Muzzafar, and Robert Wollman, and Roy E Weiss
December 2018, No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery,
Rebecca L Brown, and Tariq Muzzafar, and Robert Wollman, and Roy E Weiss
October 1982, The Medical journal of Australia,
Rebecca L Brown, and Tariq Muzzafar, and Robert Wollman, and Roy E Weiss
January 1984, Human pathology,
Rebecca L Brown, and Tariq Muzzafar, and Robert Wollman, and Roy E Weiss
January 1982, Endocrinologie,
Rebecca L Brown, and Tariq Muzzafar, and Robert Wollman, and Roy E Weiss
October 1993, Acta endocrinologica,
Rebecca L Brown, and Tariq Muzzafar, and Robert Wollman, and Roy E Weiss
June 1982, Gaceta medica de Mexico,
Rebecca L Brown, and Tariq Muzzafar, and Robert Wollman, and Roy E Weiss
January 1997, Skull base surgery,
Rebecca L Brown, and Tariq Muzzafar, and Robert Wollman, and Roy E Weiss
December 1992, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry,
Copied contents to your clipboard!