Pituitary Gland Cancer Flashcards
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Anatomy
What physically connects the gland to the brain?
Infundibulum
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Anatomy
The gland is incompletely surrounded by a fibrous capsule.
TRUE or FALSE?
False.
It is completely surrounded in the fossa by a fibrous capsule that fuses with the endosteum.
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Anatomy
Give some important structures that are related to the gland
superiorly
inferolaterally
sup: chiasma
il: cavernous sinus
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Anatomy
What are the two main parts of the gland based on embryologic origins?
Adenohypophysis - from the buccopharyngeal region
neurohypophysis - from the floor of the third ventricle
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Anatomy
What are the three divisions of the adenohypophysis?
pars infundibularis (tuberalis) pars intermedia pars distalis
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Anatomy
What are the three divisions (or two) of the neurohypophysis?
median eminence
infundibular stem
infundibular process/neural lobe
(the first two can be called as infundibulum or neural stalk)
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Anatomy
The hypophysis is supplied by hypophyseal arteries that are branches of what artery?
ICA
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Anatomy
Main nerve supply of the neurohypophysis?
hypothalamohypohyseal tract
(which contains 2 sets of fibers)
supraopticohypophyseal tract and tuberohypophyseal tract
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Anatomy
What is the name of the location of the pituitary gland?
a saddle-shaped, base-of-brain bone depression
sella turcica
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Most hormones are controlled by the releasing factors from the hypothalamus.
What is the exception?
Prolactin - controlled by the dopamine system via an inhibitory mechanism.
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Anatomy
The gland has a dual circulation
TRUE or FALSE?
True
one is composed of arteries and veins and the other a portal
venous system that links the hypothalamus and the anterior lobe
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Physiology
Enumerate the 5 cell types based on staining and enumerate their corresponding products.
There are five cell types that are revealed using specific antibody staining:
Somatotrophs. Growth hormone–producing acidophilic cells constituting about 50% of the anterior lobe
Lactotrophs. Prolactin-producing acidophilic cells (also known as mammotrophs)
Corticotrophs. Basophilic-appearing cells that produce adenocorticotrophic hormone, proopiomelanocortin, melanocytic-stimulating hormone, endorphins, and lipotropin
Thyrotrophs. Very pale-appearing cells that produce thyroid-stimulating hormone
Gonadotrophs. Basophilic cells that produce follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone
Pituitary Gland Cancer
Most functioning pituitary adenomas are plurihormonal
TRUE or FALSE?
False
Most are monoclonal producing only one aberrant excess hormone production.
Pituitary Gland Cancer
What is the most common tumor of the anterior pituitary, accounting for 30% of all adenomas?
Prolactinoma
Pituitary Gland Cancer
What is the role of RT?
reserved for residual or for medically inoperable patients.
