Pituitary adenoma pathophysiology
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmad Al Maradni, M.D. [2]
Overview
Pathophysiology
- Pituitary macroadenomas are the most common suprasellar mass in adults. They are defined as adenomas greater than 10 mm in size and are most frequently diagnosed as the result of compressive symptoms to nearby structures, such as optic chiasm.
- Larger adenomas can lead to hormonal imbalance due to mass effect rather than secretion.
- Hypopituitarism or moderately elevated prolactin are both seen, the later due to stalk effect; prolactin release (unlike other pituitary hormones) is tonically inhibited by prolactin inhibitory hormone (a.k.a. dopamine) and as such compression of the pituitary infundibulum can result in elevation of systemic prolactin levels due to interruption of normal inhibition.
- Pituitary microadenomas are confined to the sella. They are defined as adenomas less than 10 mm in size and are most frequently diagnosed as the result of investigating hormonal imbalance.
- Macroadenomas are approximately twice as common as micoadenoma.[1]
References
- ↑ Pituitary adenoma. Dr Amir Rezaee and Dr Yuranga Weerakkody. Radiopaedia.org 2015.http://radiopaedia.org/articles/pituitary-adenoma