Xanthomatous Hypophysitis Secondary to a Ruptured Rathke’s Cleft Cyst: A Case Report

Hypophysitis (HP) is a rare disease which develops secondary to chronic or acute inflammation of the pituitary gland and may cause symptoms related to pituitary dysfunction and mass compression. Lymphocytic HP is the most common subtype of primary HP, while xanthomatous HP (XHP) is considered the rarest form, with 35 reported cases, to date. A 35-year-old woman was initially admitted to a Gynecology clinic with a 2-year history of amenorrhea and headache. She was started on cabergoline 0.5 mg twice a week for macroprolactinoma. Due to persistent amenorrhea with low gonadotropins, she was referred to our Endocrinology clinic. Her pituitary function profile revealed panhypopituitarism and a 13×11×12 mm sized sellar mass with diffuse enhancement which sustained toward the infundibulum and dura was observed on the gadolinium-enhanced pituitary MRI. The patient underwent an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for tumor resection and thick yellowish fluid draining from the lesion was observed. The histopathological diagnosis was reported as a rupture of an Rathke’s cleft cyst and an XHP. The surgery did not improve the symptoms/pituitary functions, however, headache recovered immediately after the first dose of high dose methylprednisolone treatment. The inflammatory process in a xanthomatous lesion may actually be a secondary response to mucous fluid content release from a ruptured cyst, thus recommended to classify XHP as secondary hypophysitis. Since the differentiation of XHP from other pituitary tumors may be challenging preoperatively, surgery is the major diagnostic tool and also, the most recommended therapeutic option.

Evaluation of prophylactic and therapeutic effects of sildenafil on acute radiation proctitis in rats

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the prophylactic and therapeutical effects of sildenafil in a model of acute radiation proctitis (ARP). Methods: All experimental procedures of this study was examined by histopathological, immunohistochemical and transmission electron microscopic analysis. Results: Our histopathological evaluations indicated significant increases in lesion severity, cryptic apsis, cryptitis, cryptic distortion, reactive atypia and infiltration depth of the control (proctitis) group. While the prophylaxis group and the treatment group had significantly lower scores. High-dose group showed similar results as prophylaxis group. Histopathological findings of the prophylaxis group was more significant than the treatment group. Immunoreactivities of IL-1β, FGF-2, TNF- α and HIF-1α increased in the control group especially in the epithelial and cryptic regions. On the contrary, sildenafil application caused significant decreases of inflammatory markers in all treatment groups, specifically better results in the prophylaxis group. Conclusion: The sildenafil has anti-inflammatory effects on ARP, as well as protective effects against ARP and the protective effect of sildenafil surpasses its therapeutic effect histopathologically.

Evaluation of prophylactic and therapeutic effects of ruscogenin on acute radiation proctitis: an experimental rat model

PURPOSE: Radiation proctitis (RP) is inflammation and damage to the rectum, manifested secondary to ionizing radiation utilized for treatment. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory therapeutical and protective effects of ruscogenin in a model of acute RP. METHODS: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 8) as sham, control, treatment, and prophylaxis groups. Prophylaxis group and treatment group were dosed ruscogenin by oral gavage for 14 days pre- and postradiation. At the end of the 28th day, all subjects were sacrificed. RESULTS: Histopathological analysis showed a significant increase in cryptitis abscess, cryptitis and reactive atypia, and depth of lymphocytic infiltration of the control group, compared to the other groups (P < 0.05), while treatment and prophylaxis groups showed significant decreases (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that immunoreactivity were significantly higher in control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, and P < 0.01, respectively), but vice versa for treatment and prophylaxis groups. There was not any significant difference for fibroblast growth factor 2 immunoreactivity. The epithelium of control rectums indicated an increase in TNF-α immunoreactivity while other groups had significant decrease (P < 0.01). Electron microscopical findings were parallel to light microscopy. CONCLUSION: In this study, ruscogenin was observed to be effective on prophylaxis or treatment of acute RP. Although there are various reports on the treatment of the rectum damaged by acute RP in the literature, this could be the first study since there is no research indicating the ultrastructural effect of ruscogenin.

Primary Synovial Sarcoma of Lung

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a highly malignant tumor that accounts for 10% of all soft-tissue sarcomas. Primary SS arising from the lung is extremely rare, and the prognosis is poor. We report a case of pulmonary SS presenting with a mass lesion invading the right upper and middle lobes, extending to the mediastinum and the chest wall. After tru-cut biopsy, surgical resection was performed. The final diagnosis was SS (biphasic type) based on histological and immunohistochemical findings. There are no guidelines for optimal treatment due to the rarity of these tumors. Current treatment includes surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.