J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1996 Jul;25(7):1489-1495.

Silent Corticotropic Adenomas of the Pituitary Gland: Cases Report

• Kim CH
• Ha YI

Abstract

This is our report of two cases of pituitary adenoma containing immunoreactive adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) in tumor specimens but unassociated with Cushing's disease. The first case is a 39-year-old male with visual disturbance for 3 years. He was in a eucorticoid state clinically and biochemically. A large size pituitary tumor was found and removed by trans-sphenoidal approach. The tumor specimen was confirmed as adenoma with hematoxylin and eosin(H & E) staining;and immunohistochemical study demonstrated strong positivity for ACTH. The second case is a 61-year-old female with progressive deterioration of visual function and headache. She had no signs of symptoms of hormonal excess and was found to have a pituitary macroadenoma which was then removed by the trans-sphenoidal route. Surgical specimen also showed findings of adenoma;and immunohistochemical study revealed the presence of ACTH in biopsy. Since silent corticotropic adenoma of the pituitary gland is rarely encountered, the authors therefore report these 2 cases and causes of endocrinologic silence with review of literatures.

Keyword

Pituitary adenoma; Silent corticotropic adenoma; ACTH; Immunohistochemistry; Electron microscopy

MeSH Terms

Adenoma*
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Adult
Biopsy
Female
Headache
Hematoxylin
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Microscopy, Electron
Middle Aged
Pituitary Gland*
Pituitary Neoplasms
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Hematoxylin