Biomaterial Database

Asymptomatic large pituitary adenomas discovered at autopsy. 1996

R N Auer, and P Alakija, and G R Sutherland

Department of Histopathology, The University of Calgary and Foothills Hospital, Alberta, Canada.

BACKGROUND Pituitary adenomas over 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter might seem to warrant surgical intervention by virtue of their inevitable compression and distortion of surrounding neural tissues. METHODS We report three pituitary adenomas over 1 inch in diameter, causing gross distortion of the optic nerves, chiasm, and tracts, as well as surrounding brain structures. All three tumors were asymptomatic and were discovered incidentally at autopsy in patients 65, 79, and 101 years of age. RESULTS Tumor diameters were 2.5, 4.0, and 2.5 cm, respectively. Histologically, all were chromophobe adenomas, free of either hemorrhage or necrosis. In the absence of hormonal secretion or pituitary apoplexy, symptom-free giant adenomas of the pituitary are compatible with a long life. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the need for surgical intervention in pituitary adenomata should be determined by considerations other than mere tumor presence and size.

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
D010902	Pituitary Gland	A small, unpaired gland situated in the SELLA TURCICA. It is connected to the HYPOTHALAMUS by a short stalk which is called the INFUNDIBULUM.	Hypophysis,Hypothalamus, Infundibular,Infundibular Stalk,Infundibular Stem,Infundibulum (Hypophysis),Infundibulum, Hypophyseal,Pituitary Stalk,Hypophyseal Infundibulum,Hypophyseal Stalk,Hypophysis Cerebri,Infundibulum,Cerebri, Hypophysis,Cerebrus, Hypophysis,Gland, Pituitary,Glands, Pituitary,Hypophyseal Stalks,Hypophyses,Hypophysis Cerebrus,Infundibular Hypothalamus,Infundibular Stalks,Infundibulums,Pituitary Glands,Pituitary Stalks,Stalk, Hypophyseal,Stalk, Infundibular,Stalks, Hypophyseal,Stalks, Infundibular
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
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000236	Adenoma	A benign epithelial tumor with a glandular organization.	Adenoma, Basal Cell,Adenoma, Follicular,Adenoma, Microcystic,Adenoma, Monomorphic,Adenoma, Papillary,Adenoma, Trabecular,Adenomas,Adenomas, Basal Cell,Adenomas, Follicular,Adenomas, Microcystic,Adenomas, Monomorphic,Adenomas, Papillary,Adenomas, Trabecular,Basal Cell Adenoma,Basal Cell Adenomas,Follicular Adenoma,Follicular Adenomas,Microcystic Adenoma,Microcystic Adenomas,Monomorphic Adenoma,Monomorphic Adenomas,Papillary Adenoma,Papillary Adenomas,Trabecular Adenoma,Trabecular Adenomas
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D001344	Autopsy	Postmortem examination of the body.	Autopsies,Post-Mortem Examination,Postmortem Examination,Examination, Post-Mortem,Examination, Postmortem,Examinations, Post-Mortem,Examinations, Postmortem,Post Mortem Examination,Post-Mortem Examinations,Postmortem Examinations