Roentgen Aspects of Pituitary Tumors Manifested after Bilateral Adrenalectomy for Cushing's Syndrome

Abstract

In 1958, Nelson et al. (13) first described an ACTH-secreting chromophobe adenoma after bilateral adrenalectomy in a patient with Cushing's syndrome. Since that time other cases in which previously unsuspected pituitary tumors became manifest after adrenalectomy have been reported (1–3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 17). In these, the pituitary tumor was diagnosed in from one to ten years after adrenalectomy. Most of the patients were women, reflecting the predilection of Cushing's syndrome for females. The pituitary tumors in these patients were chromophobe adenomas, basophil adenomas, or mixed basophil and chromophobe adenomas, and carcinomas composed of either basophilic or chromophobic components. Cushing's syndrome resulting from adrenocortical hyperfunction is frequently treated by bilateral total or subtotal adrenalectomy. Since it has become apparent that in some of these patients evidence of pituitary tumor may develop after adrenalectomy, routine follow-up roentgenograms are essential. Report of Cases...