Pathological diversity in clinical syndromes of pituitary hypersecretion: its significance in evaluating their surgical treatment.

Abstract

Through pathological examination disclosed considerable diversity of abnormal cell types and correspondingly different surgical correction rates among patients with apparently similar syndromes of pituitary hypersecretion. The surgical correction of acromegaly in patients with densely granulated growth hormone tumours was threefold that in patients whose tumours showed sparse granulation. Two non-prolactinoma tumour types associated with hyperprolactinemia have aggressive growth patterns; their special therapeutic management is discussed. Of 33 patients with Cushing's disease solitary adenomas were found in only 14, while six patients had proven corticotroph cell hyperplasia. Elective hypophysectomy should replace selective adenomectomy in selected cases of Cushing's disease.