Mixed pituitary adenoma and gangliocytoma associated with acromegaly--case report.

Abstract

A gangliocytoma in the sellar region is very rare. We report a case of an intrasellar gangliocytoma complicated by pituitary adenoma presenting with acromegaly. A 52-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with headache, mild acromegaly, and bitemporal hemianopsia, and endocrinological study found a high serum level of growth hormone (GH). A computed tomographic scan revealed a tumor in the sellar region, which was almost totally removed by trans-sphenoidal surgery. Histological examination of the resected specimen showed diffuse, chromophobe-type pituitary adenoma, partially containing cholesterin clefts. Areas of clusters of dysmorphic neurons, adjacent to or mixed with pituitary adenoma, were diagnosed as gangliocytoma. The immunohistochemical examination showed GH-releasing hormone (GRH)-positive dysmorphic neurons and GH-positive pituitary adenoma. We consider that the trophic effect of GRH secreted by the neurons of GRH-producing intrasellar gangliocytoma probably caused the GH-producing pituitary adenoma.

• Authors: H Asada, M Otani, S Furuhata, H Inoue, S Toya, Y Ogawa
• Journal: Neurologia medico-chirurgica (Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo)) Vol. 30 Issue 8 Pg. 628-32 (Aug 1990) ISSN: 0470-8105 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 1703643 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Acromegaly (etiology, pathology)
• Adenoma (complications, diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Female
• Ganglioneuroma (complications, diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms, Multiple Primary (complications, diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Pituitary Neoplasms (complications, diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed