pathology of the pituitary gland

Question 1

anterior pituitary gland is also known as the

Answer 1

adrenohypophysis

Question 2

the anterior pituitary secretes

Answer 2

trophic and non-trophic hormones

Question 3

trophic hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary

Answer 3

TSH, FSH, LH, ACTH, MSH

Question 4

non-trophic hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary

Answer 4

growth hormone and prolactin

Question 5

anterior pituitary gland is derived from

Answer 5

rathkes pouch

Question 6

posterior pituitary gland is also known as the

Answer 6

neurohypophysis

Question 7

posterior pituitary gland is an

Answer 7

extension of neural tissue consisting go modified glial cells and axonal processes

Question 8

hormones secreted by the posterior pituitary

Answer 8

oxytocin and anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) which are synthesised in the hypothalamus

Question 9

how many types of cells does the anterior pituitary contain

Answer 9

3

Question 10

what are the cells of the anterior pituitary

Answer 10

1. ACIDOPHILS
2. BASOPHILS
3. CHROMATROPHS

Question 11

acidophils contains

Answer 11

• somatotrophs which secrete GROWTH HORMONE

- mammotrophs which secrete PROLACTIN

Question 12

basophils contain

Answer 12

• corticotrophs which secrete ACTH
• thyrotrophs which secrete TSH
• gonadotrophs which secrete FSH and LH

Question 13

posterior pituitary is made up of

Answer 13

non-myelinated axons of neurosecretory neurons

Question 14

pituitary hypofunction

Answer 14

rarely affects single hormones and most common causes panhypopituatarism

Question 15

craniopharyngioma is derived from

Answer 15

remnants of rathkes pouch and are benign

Question 16

craniopharyngioma accounts for

Answer 16

1-5% of intracranial tumours with the majority being suprasellar (above the pituitary gland)

Question 17

incidence of craniopharyngiomas is

Answer 17

bimodal: highest incidence between age
- 5-15 and
- 60-70

Question 18

craniopharyngiomas are

Answer 18

slow growing and are often cystic but they can calcify

Question 19

presentation of craniopharyngiomas

Answer 19

• headaches
• visual disturbances
• growth retardation in childdren

Question 20

management of craniopahryngiomas

Answer 20

surgical resection and radiotherapy

Question 21

pathologies of the anterior pituitary gland

Answer 21

hyperfucntions: adenomas and carcinomas

hypofunction:
- trauma
- non-functioning pituitary adenomas
- infection
- infarctions: sheehans syndrome and pituitary apoplexy
- granulomatous infiltration

Question 22

pathologies of the posterior pituitary gland

Answer 22

• diabetes insipidus

- syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion SIADH

Question 23

pituitary carcinomas

Answer 23

are very rare and are normally functionally secreting prolactin or ACTH

Question 24

diabetes insidious can be

Answer 24

central or nephrogenic

Question 25

central diabetes insipidus

Answer 25

insufficient production of anti-diuretic hormone

Question 26

nephrogenic diabetets insipidus

Answer 26

renal resistance to the action of anti-diuretic hormone

Question 27

adrenocortical adenoma

Answer 27

• well circumscribed small lesions
• yellow surface
• composed of cells resembling adrenocortical cells
• usually non-functional and are an incidental finding

Question 28

adrenocortical carcinomas

Answer 28

• rare tumours
• likely to be functional
• virilising tumours are mostly malignant

Question 29

spread of an adrenocortcial carcinoma

Answer 29

• local= retropertinoneum and the kidney

- metastasises usually vascular to the liver lung and bones

Question 30

5 year survival of adrenocortical carcinoma

Answer 30

20%

Question 31

whats it difficult to distinguish in adrenocortical tumours

Answer 31

whether they are benign or malignant

Question 32

what is the only definite criterion for malignant of adrenococrtical tumours

Answer 32

metastasises

Question 33

features suggesting it is a adrenocortical carcinoma rather than adenoma

Answer 33

• large size
• haemorrhage and necrosis
• capsular or vascular invasion

Question 34

neuroblastoma

Answer 34

40% arise in the adrenal medulla while the rest along the sympathetic chain

Question 35

neuroblastomas are composed of

Answer 35

primitive appearing cells

Question 36

what is a poor prognostic indicator in neuroblastoma

Answer 36

amplification of N-myc and expression of telomerase