Pituitary adenoma with neuronal choristoma: a report of two rare cases

• Published in: Clinical neurology and neurosurgery Vol. 101; no. 2; pp. 128 - 132
• Main Authors: Sharma, M.C., Karak, A.K., Mahapatra, A.K., Sarkar, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.06.1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Acromegaly - etiology; Acromegaly - pathology; Adenoma, Chromophobe - complications; Adenoma, Chromophobe - pathology; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Choristoma; Choristoma - complications; Choristoma - pathology; Endocrinopathies; Female; Gangliocytic hamartoma; Humans; Hypothalamic hamartoma; Hypothalamus. Hypophysis. Epiphysis (diseases); Immunohistochemistry; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nerve Tissue; Non tumoral diseases. Target tissue resistance. Benign neoplasms; Pituitary adenoma; Pituitary Diseases - complications; Pituitary Diseases - pathology; Pituitary Neoplasms - complications; Pituitary Neoplasms - pathology; Prolactinoma - complications; Prolactinoma - pathology; Tropical medicine; Immunohistochemistry; Hypothalamic hamartoma; Gangliocytic hamartoma; Pituitary adenoma; Choristoma; Endocrinopathy; Human; Exploration; Adenoma; Congenital disease; Case study; Pathology; Neuron; Malformation; Pituitary diseases; Pituitary gland; Benign neoplasm
• ISSN: 0303-8467; 1872-6968
• DOI: 10.1016/S0303-8467(99)00018-9

Two rare cases of pituitary adenoma with neuronal choristoma are described. Both patients were female and presented with features of acromegaly with elevated growth hormone and prolactin levels. Radiologically, both lesions were predominantly intrasellar in location with extension into suprasellar region, but hypothalamus was not involved. Histopathological examination revealed a mixture of chromophobe pituitary adenoma cells and neuronal cells. In both cases, the adenoma component was positive for growth hormone and prolactin. Interestingly, immunopositivity for α-subunit, cytokeratin and prolactin was seen in the adenoma and neuronal cells in one case. Our findings support the hypothesis that the neuronal cells possibly arise from adenoma cells as a result of metaplasia.