Histopathological features of post-mortem pituitaries: A retrospective analysis / Características histopatológicas de hipófises post mortem: análise retrospectiva

SUMMARY Objective: As a result of the use of neuroimaging techniques, silent pituitary lesions are diagnosed more and more frequently; however, there are few published post-mortem studies about this gland. Incidence data of pituitary lesions are rare and in Portugal they are outdated or even non-existent. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of normal patterns and incidental post-mortem pituitary pathology at Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, analyzing the associations with clinical data and assessing the clinical relevance of the findings. Method: We reviewed retrospectively and histologically 167 pituitaries of a consecutive series of autopsies from the Department of Pathology of this centre. They were done between 2012 and 2014, and in all cases medical records were reviewed. The morphological patterns observed, were classified into three major groups: 1) Normal histological patterns and variants; 2) Infectious-inflammatory pathology, metabolic and vascular disorders; 3) Incidental primary proliferation and secondary to systemic diseases. Results: The subjects included in this study were of all age groups (from 1 day to 91 years old), 71 were female and 96 male. Fifty-seven of these glands didn’t show any alteration; 51 showed colloid cysts arising from Rathke cleft; 44 presented hyperplasia in adenohypophysis and we identified 20 adenomas in 19 glands (immunohistochemically, eight PRL-producing and five ACTH-producing tumors), ten of which associated with obesity, 11 to hypertension and six to diabetes mellitus. There were two cases with metastasis. Conclusion: Subclinical pathology in our country is similar to that seen in other parts of the world, but at older ages.

RESUMO Objetivo: como resultado da utilização de técnicas de neuroimagem, cada vez se diagnosticam mais lesões hipofisárias silentes; porém, há poucos estudos post mortem publicados sobre essa glândula. Os dados de incidência existentes sobre lesões hipofisárias são raros, sendo em Portugal desatualizados ou inexistentes. O objetivo é determinar a prevalência dos padrões normais e da patologia hipofisária incidental post mortem no Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, analisando as associações com dados clínicos e avaliando a relevância clínica dos achados. Método: revisaram-se histologicamente de forma retrospectiva 167 hipófises de uma série consecutiva de autópsias do Serviço de Anatomia Patológica desse centro, realizadas entre 2012 e 2014, sendo revisadas em todos os casos as histórias clínicas. Os padrões morfológicos observados classificaram-se em três grandes grupos: 1) padrões histológicos de normalidade e variantes; 2) patologia infeccioso-inflamatória, distúrbios metabólicos e transtornos vasculares; 3) proliferação primária incidental e secundária a doenças sistêmicas. Resultados: os doentes incluíam todas as faixas etárias (de 1 dia a 91 anos), sendo 71 do sexo feminino e 96 do masculino. Cinquenta e sete das glândulas não apresentaram qualquer alteração; 51 mostraram cistos coloides derivados da fissura de Rathke; em 44, observou-se hiperplasia da adeno-hipófise e identificaram-se 20 adenomas em 19 glândulas (oito imuno-histoquimicamente produtores de PRL e cinco de ACTH), dos quais dez associados à obesidade, 11 à hipertensão arterial e seis a diabetes mellitus. Houve dois casos com metástases. Conclusão: a patologia subclínica em nosso meio é similar à observada em outras partes do mundo, mas em idades mais avançadas.

Rathke's cleft cyst--an uncommon cause of headache in a young boy.

Developmental disorders of the pituitary can present like a mass lesion in the region of the pituitary and produce pressure effects. Rathke's cleft cyst is one such developmental disorder of the pituitary which presents in early life producing pressure effects namely visual disturbances due to its proximity to optic chiasma, headache, and hormonal imbalance due to pituitary malfunction. In this case report a 19 years boy presented with symptoms of headache and gradual loss of vision over one year period. Neuro-imaging study demonstrated a cystic lesion in the region of the pituitary. Trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy was performed. Histopathology of the biopsied material was suggestive of Rathke's cleft cyst. Following surgery the boy had a good visual recovery. So early diagnosis and removal of a Rathke's cleft cyst has a good prognosis as compared to a craniopharyngioma which is a very close differential diagnosis.

First Male Case of Lymphocytic Hypophysitis in Korea

Lymphocytic hypophysitis is a rare inflammatory disorder which is caused by autoimmune destruction of the pituitary gland. Almost all reported cases have been in women and the disease is often associated with pregnancy. We describe here the first male case of lymphocytic hypophysitis in Korea. The patient presented with headache, impotence, decreased libido, and deteriorated vision. Endocrinologic studies showed panhypopituitarism, and pituitary MRI imaging revealed a homogeneously enhanced pituitary mass with a thickened stalk. Treatment with prednisolone and thyroid hormone for five months was ineffective. Transsphenoidal resection of the pituitary mass was performed successfully with normalization of the visual field defect. Histologic examination revealed diffuse lymphocytic infiltration with dense collagenous fibrosis, consistent with lymphocytic hypophysitis. Lymphocytic hypophysitis should be considered in differential diagnosis even in men with hypopituitarism and an enlarged pituitary gland.