Pituitary adenoma

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Pituitary adenoma

ETP Endocrine System

ETP Endocrine System

Pharyngeal arches, pouches, and clefts
Endocrine system anatomy and physiology
Anatomy of the thyroid and parathyroid glands
Anatomy of the abdominal viscera: Pancreas and spleen
Pituitary gland histology
Thyroid and parathyroid gland histology
Pancreas histology
Adrenal gland histology
Synthesis of adrenocortical hormones
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Growth hormone and somatostatin
Hunger and satiety
Antidiuretic hormone
Thyroid hormones
Insulin
Insulins
Glucagon
Somatostatin
Cortisol
Testosterone
Estrogen and progesterone
Oxytocin and prolactin
Parathyroid hormone
Calcitonin
Vitamin D
Phosphate, calcium and magnesium homeostasis
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Adrenal insufficiency: Pathology review
Primary adrenal insufficiency
Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome
Hyperaldosteronism
Cushing syndrome and Cushing disease: Pathology review
Cushing syndrome
Conn syndrome
Pheochromocytoma
Adrenal masses: Pathology review
Adrenal masses and tumors: Clinical
Adrenal cortical carcinoma
Thyroglossal duct cyst
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism: Pathology review
Graves disease
Thyroid eye disease (NORD)
Toxic multinodular goiter
Euthyroid sick syndrome
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism: Pathology review
Hashimoto thyroiditis
Hypothyroidism and thyroiditis: Clinical
Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis
Riedel thyroiditis
Thyroid storm
Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer: Pathology review
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer: Clinical
Parathyroid disorders and calcium imbalance: Pathology review
Parathyroid conditions and calcium imbalance: Clinical
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism
Hypercalcemia
Hypocalcemia
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus: Pathology review
Diabetes mellitus: Clinical
Diabetic nephropathy
Diabetic retinopathy
Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms
Diabetes insipidus and SIADH: Pathology review
Diabetes insipidus
Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)
Hypopituitarism: Pathology review
Hypopituitarism
Hyperpituitarism
Pituitary adenoma
Pituitary apoplexy
Pituitary tumors: Pathology review
Sheehan syndrome
Hyperprolactinemia
Prolactinoma
Hypoprolactinemia
Gigantism
Acromegaly
Constitutional growth delay
Puberty and Tanner staging
Precocious puberty
Delayed puberty
Kallmann syndrome
Disorders of sex chromosomes: Pathology review
5-alpha-reductase deficiency
Menstrual cycle
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Premature ovarian failure
Menopause
Androgen insensitivity syndrome
Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (NORD)
Multiple endocrine neoplasia: Pathology review
Multiple endocrine neoplasia
Carcinoid syndrome
Neuroblastoma
Opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (NORD)
Hyperthyroidism medications
Hypothyroidism medications
Hypoglycemics: Insulin secretagogues
Miscellaneous hypoglycemics
Mineralocorticoids and mineralocorticoid antagonists
Adrenal hormone synthesis inhibitors

Assessments

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Pituitary adenoma

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Questions

USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE

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A 41-year-old woman comes to her outpatient provider because of skin changes that began three-months ago. She has noticed increased bruising and the development of purple-red stretch marks on the abdomen. Past medical history is notable for asthma, for which she intermittently uses a budesonide inhaler. She smokes half-a-pack of cigarettes per day. In the office, her temperature is 37.7°C (99.9°F), pulse is 71/min, respirations are 19/min, and blood pressure is 142/85 mmHg. Physical exam confirms the presence of ecchymoses and abdominal striae. Laboratory testing reveals the following findings:

 Laboratory value  Result 
 Sodium  146 mmol/L 
 Potassium  3.9 mmol/L 
 Bicarbonate  26 mmol/L 
 Fasting glucose  137 mg/dL 
 24-hour urine cortisol 72 µg/day 
 Serum ACTH**  35 pg/mL 

*Normal range: 4-40 µg/day
**Normal range: 5-20 pg/mL

The serum cortisol levels are significantly reduced in response to a high-dose of dexamethasone. Which of the following is the most likely underlying pathophysiology for this patient’s condition?

External References

First Aid

2024

2023

2022

2021

Amenorrhea

pituitary adenoma and p. 540

Bitemporal hemianopia p. 557

pituitary adenoma p. 540

Headache p. 532

pituitary adenomas and p. 342, NaN

Pituitary adenoma p. 540

Pituitary adenomas

acromegaly and p. 341

GH and p. 338

goiter and p. 346

hypopituitarism and p. 349

Pituitary tumors

diabetes insipidus p. 342

MEN 1 and p. 356

Transcript

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Pituitary adenoma can be broken down - “adeno” refers to a gland and “oma” refers to a tumor, so pituitary adenoma is a tumor that develops in the hormone-producing cells of the pituitary gland.

Normally, the pituitary is a pea-sized gland, hanging by a stalk from the base of the brain.

It sits just behind the eyes near the optic chiasm, which is where the optic nerves cross.

The anterior pituitary, which is the front of the pituitary gland, contains a few different types of cells, each of which secretes a different hormone.

The largest group of cells are the somatotropes which secrete growth hormone, or GH for short, which goes on to promote tissue and organ growth.

The second largest cell group are the corticotrophs which secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH for short.

ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol, a hormone that controls the stress response and metabolic regulation.

A smaller cell group are the lactotrophs which secrete prolactin.

Prolactin stimulates breast milk production, and also inhibits ovulation, which is when an egg cell is released from the ovary, and inhibits spermatogenesis, which is the development of sperm cells.

There are also thyrotrophs which are cells that secrete thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH which goes on to stimulate the thyroid gland.

And finally, there are also gonadotrophs which secrete two gonadotropic hormones - luteinizing hormone, or LH, and follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH, both of which go on to stimulate the ovaries or testes.

In pituitary adenomas, one of these cells mutates and becomes neoplastic, meaning that it starts dividing uncontrollably and over time it forms a tumor.

But these cells don’t invade neighboring tissues, so this is considered a benign tumor rather than a malignant one.

Pituitary adenomas can be classified by their size, adenomas smaller than 1cm are called microadenomas, and those larger than 1cm are called macroadenomas.

Macroadenomas are more likely to compress surrounding structures like the meninges, which is the protective layer overlying the brain that typically causes pain when it’s stretched.

Macroadenomas can also compress optic nerves as they cross at the optic chiasm.

That can affect a person’s ability to view things that are in the temporal visual field of both eyes, also called “bitemporal hemianopia”.

Finally, the compression can also affect other healthy pituitary cells and interfere with their ability to make hormones.

Pituitary adenomas that secrete hormones are called functional adenomas, whereas those that don’t are called non-functional adenomas.

Functional pituitary adenomas are divided into a few different types depending on the cells that they arise from and the hormone these cells produce.

The most common type of pituitary adenoma is a prolactinoma which arises from lactotrophs that make prolactin.

In women, excess prolactin causes amenorrhea, which is when there is loss of menstrual bleeding and galactorrhea, which is a milky nipple discharge.

In men, excess prolactin causes a low libido - a low sex drive and gynecomastia or breast enlargement.

The second most common type of pituitary adenoma arises from somatotropes that make growth hormone.

Summary

Pituitary adenomas are benign tumors that occur in the pituitary gland. They vary depending on their size and the type of hormones they produce. Some pituitary adenomas do not produce any hormones and are referred to as non-functioning adenomas, while others produce hormones that can cause a wide range of symptoms.

Common symptoms include headaches, visual disturbances, fatigue, and changes in sexual function or menstrual cycles. The most common types involve lactotrophs that make prolactin, somatotrophs that make growth hormones, and corticotrophs that make ACTH. They are usually diagnosed by checking hormone levels and obtaining an MRI and are treated with medications or surgery.

Sources

  1. "Robbins Basic Pathology" Elsevier (2017)
  2. "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Twentieth Edition (Vol.1 & Vol.2)" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
  3. "Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine 8E" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
  4. "CURRENT Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2019)
  5. "Harrison's Endocrinology, 4E" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2016)
  6. "Management of hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas" Neuro-Oncology (2016)
  7. "The prevalence of pituitary adenomas" Cancer (2004)