Non-fucntioning Tumours And Pituitary Hormone Testing 12.12.23 Flashcards
What are the type of pituitary mass lesions whic can be found in pituitary?
Non-functioning pituitary adenomas
Endocrine active pituitary adenomas
Malignant pituitary tumours: functional and non-functional pituitary carcinomas
Metastases in the pituitary (breast, lung, stomach, kidney)
Pituitary cysts: Rathke’s cleft cyst
Where do craniopharyngioma arise from?
Arises from squamous epithelial remnants of Rathke’s pouch (base of brain near pituitary)
What is Rathke’s pouch?
An evagination at the roof of the developing mouth in front of the buccopharyngeal membrane - gives rise to the anterior pituitary
What does Rathke’s pouch give rise to?
Anterior pituitary
What are the two types of craniopharyngioma?
Adamantinous - cyst formation and calcification
Squamous papillary - well circumscribed
What is the Rathke’s cyst?
Single layer of epithelial cells with mucous, cellular or serous compounds in cysts fluid —> it is derived from remnants of Rathke’s pouch
What is a meningioma? What is it a complication of?
Tumour of the meninges, complication of radiotherapy
What is the usual presentation of meningioma
Usually present with loss of visual acuity, endocrine dysfunction and visual field defects
What % of non-functioning pituitary adenomas account for primary intracranial tumours?
10-15%
What are three signs of aggressiveness in non-functioning pituitary adenomas
Large size
Cavernous sinus invasion
Lobulated suprasellar margins
What is the test for non-functioning tumours?
No specific test but absence of hormone secretion, test normal pituitary function
How do you test pituitary function? Which hormones do you test?
Test many hormones: GH, LH/FSH, ACTH, TSH and ADH
Cardiac rhythms and pulsatile
If the peripheral target organ is working normally, the pituitary is working
Deficiency of GH causes what?
Short stature
Abnormal body composition
Reduced muscle mass
Poor quality of life
Deficiency of FSH/LH causes what?
Hypogonadism
Reduced sperm count
Infertility
Menstruation problems
Deficiency of TSH causes what?
Hypothyroidism