Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas

D. Zhao, Y. Tomono, K. Tsuboi, T. Nose, O. Kubo, E. R. Laws, K. D. Post, K. Tabuchi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sixty-five clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas were studied by immunohistochemistry, and 12 cases were also analyzed by electron microscopy. Thirty-nine cases (60%) were immunohistochemically identified as hormone-producing adenomas. Six adenomas produced multiple hormones. Electron microscopy found seven null cell adenomas and five oncocytomas. The oncocytomas had a significantly higher incidence of hormone expression than the null cell adenomas. These results indicate that clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas produce hormones, even though blood hormone levels are normal or low. Furthermore, the evidence of multihormonal production implies that two or more cell lineages including a protein hormone-producing type and a glycoprotein hormone-producing type may exist in the same nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)453-457
Number of pages5
JournalNeurologia Medico-Chirurgica
Volume40
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

Keywords

  • Clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma
  • Electron microscopy
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Multihormonal production
  • Null cell adenoma
  • Oncocytoma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology

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