Pathology of the pituitary and the adrenal gland Flashcards
What is the adenohypophysis?
Anterior pituitary
What is the neurohypophysis?
Posterior pituitary
What trophic hormones does the anterior pituitary secrete?
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
Follicular stimulating hormone
Luteinizing hormone
Thyroid stimulating hormone
What non-trophic hormones does the anterior pituitary secrete?
Growth hormone
Prolactin
What is a trophic hormone?
Hormones that act upon endocrine glands
What does the posterior pituitary secrete?
Anti-diuretic hormone/vasopressin
Oxytocin
What colour do acidic cells show up on H&E staining? What about alkaline cells?
Acidic - pink
Alkaline - purple
Are the cells which secrete the non trophic hormones acidic or alkaline?
Acidic (i.e pink)
Which pathologies of the anterior pituitary gland can cause hyperfunction?
Adenoma
Carcinoma
Which pathologies of the anterior pituitary gland can cause hypofunction?
Surgery Radiation Sheehan syndrome/ischaemic necrosis Haemorrhage Tumours Sarcoidosis (& other inflammatory conditions)
List some common pathologies of the posterior pituitary
Diabetes insipidus
Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH)
What extra-pituitary cause is there for SIADH?
Paraneoplastic/ectopic production
What is diabetes insipidus?
Insufficient ADH secretion causing dehydration
Is pituitary adenoma associated with MEN1 or MEN2?
MEN1
How are pituitary adenomas classified?
Cell type/hormone produced
Which types of pituitary adenomas can you develop?
Prolactinoma ACTH-oma GH-oma FSH/LH-oma TSH-oma Mixed Hypofunctioning/non-functioning
Is it possible to have a pituitary adenoma with subclinical hormone production levels?
Yes
What are the mass effects of large pituitary adenomas?
Bitemporal hemianopsia
Pressure atrophy
Infarction –> panhypopituitarism
What is the most common functional pituitary adenoma?
Prolactinoma
How does a prolactinoma present?
Lack of libido
Amenorrhoa
Infertility
Growth hormone causes the production of which substance?
Insulin like growth factor 1
How does a growth hormone producing adenoma present?
Increased growth of bone, cartilage and connective tissue:
- Acromegaly (adults)
- Gigantism (children)
How does an ACTH producing adenoma present?
Cushing’s syndrome
What are the two commonest causes of Cushing’s syndrome?
Bilateral adrenal hyperplasia
ACTH secreting pituitary adenoma
Are pituitary carcinomas most commonly functional or non-functional?
Functional
List some possible causes of panhypopituitarism
Rathke cleft cysts Traumatic brain injury Subarachnoid haemorrhage Surgery Radiation Granulomatous inflammatory disease (sarcoidosis, TB) Sheehan's syndrome Apoplexy/bleeding from internal organ Hypothalamic tumours
How might a pituitary apoplexy present?
Headache Diplopia Hypopituitarism Cardiovascular collapse Loss of consciousness
Why might diplopia result in a pituitary apoplexy?
Haemorrhage puts pressure on the oculomotor nerve
Apart from panhypopituitarism what else might hypothalamic tumours cause?
Diabetes insipidus
What is a cricopharyngioma derived from?
Rathke’s pouch remnants
Are most cricopharyngiomas sellar or suprasellar in location?
Suprasellar
Which age groups do cricopharyngiomas present in?
Young*
Old
How do cricopharyngiomas present?
Headaches
Visual disturbances (nerve palsies, etc)
Growth retardation
How are cricopharyngiomas treated?
Radiation
What are the possible causes of central diabetes insipidus?
Trauma
Iatrogenic
Inflammatory disorders
Tumours
What is the cause of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?
Renal resistance
What is the most common underlying cause behind syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion?
Paraneoplastic syndrome
Where do the adrenal glands sit in relation to the kidneys?
Superior and medial