Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The development of pituitary gland is orchestrated by genetic signals, transcription factors and signaling molecules with a crucial role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Anterior pituitary gland is formed by both granular (secretory) and agranular cells represented mainly by follicular-stellate cells. It is known that these cells form a supporting network around secretory cells and produce many kind of growth factors, but their major function remains un...

Introduction: Somatotroph pituitary adenomas (PAs) represent 10-15% of all resected PAs, exhibiting immunohistochemical (IHC) positivity for GH (growth hormone) and PIT-1 transcription factor (TF). The histopathological (HP) and IHC variability of each PA influences the phenotype, radiological features, and therapy response.Materials and methods: The study included 33 patients with acromegaly, with men: women ratio of 17:16. The HP-IHC characteristics we...

Introduction: Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNET) are characterized by a heterogenous behavior. The immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of anterior pituitary hormones, along with that of pituitary transcription factors and with the clinical and biochemical characteristics of the patients can be integrated in a risk stratification system, which helps the therapeutic management.Material and Methods: We analyzed 37 patients with confirmed diagnosis of a...

Introduction: Clinically non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (NFPitNETs) include all anterior pituitary tumours that are not hormonally active. In histopathology (HP) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), most of NFPitNETs are gonadotroph (1). Immunolabeling is negative in only 10% of cases (‘null-cell’). Occasionally, NFPitNETs are positive for GH, PRL, TSH or ACTH despite absent or only minimal secretion of these hormones in vivo, which are known as...