Pathology of Pituitary and Parathyroid Glands Flashcards
which 2 hormones are the acidophils?
prolactin and GH (PiG = pink)
Sheehan syndrome: pathogenesis
ischemic infarct of pituitary following postpartum bleeding (pituitary enlarges in pregnancy, making it more susceptible to ischemia)
explain the stalk effect
a mass pressing on infundibular stalk –> lack of inhibitory hypothalamic influence on prolactin (via dopamine) –> slight elevation in prolactin level
dx: abundant keratin and basally palisading squamous epithelium on histology
craniopharyngioma, adamantinomatous type
what is osteitis fibrosa cystica?
bone disease caused by hyperparathyroidism; activation of osteoclasts –> formation of cystic bone spaces filled with brown fibrous tissue (“brown tumor” consisting of deposited hemosiderin from hemorrhages, causes bone pain)
dx: histology shows rim of normal parathyroid at periphery of tumor
parathyroid adenoma
dx: histology shows no normal parathyroid at periphery of tumor
parathyroid hyperplasia
dx: histology shows thick fibrous bands, capsular invasion in parathyroid
parathyroid carcinoma
histology of adrenocortical adenoma and hyperplasia
mostly zona fasciculata cells
distinguishing features of adrenocortical carcinoma (vs. adenoma or hyperplasia) (4)
large size (>5 cm), capsular and vascular invasion, necrosis, increased mitoses
pheochromocytoma: classic triad of symptoms
headaches, palpitations, sweating
dx: zellballen (cell balls), stain with chromogranin
phenochromocytoma
______ adrenal ______ is most common finding associated with endogenous Cushing (increased ACTH)
bilateral; hyperplasia
pheochromocytoma: rule of 10’s (3)
10% malignant
10% bilateral
10% extra-adrenal
what is DiGeorge syndrome?
aberrant development of 3rd and 4th pharyngeal pouches leading to thymic, parathyroid, and cardiac defects; can cause hypocalcemia due to parathyroid aplasia
