Abstract
Background: Thyrotropin-secreting adenomas (TSH-As) are rare and, according to the World Health Organization criteria (WHO 2004), a significant proportion of them present features of atypical adenomas at the time of diagnosis. Aims: To determine the frequency of "atypical adenomas" and the significance of this definition as regards follow-up. To investigate their possible association with Hashimoto thyroiditis, leading to a delay in diagnosis. Methods: Case notes for patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery between 1992 and 2006 were retrieved. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 180 months. Results: Ten cases of TSH-As out of 908 pituitary adenomas were selected. Before surgery, eight patients had hyperthyroidism, one was euthyroid and another one showed hypothyroidism associated with Hashimoto thyroiditis. All cases were macroadenomas; six of them were invasive. Three cases met the criteria for classification as atypical. In none of the cases, including the three "atypical adenomas", were clinical or radiological signs of recurrence observed. Conclusions: The three cases with features of atypical adenoma did not recur or metastasise, suggesting that, at least in the present series, a strict relationship between the morphological criteria for diagnosing atypical adenomas and biological behaviour may be sometimes lacking. Furthermore, the casual association of TSH-As with Hashimoto thyroiditis may led to an adjunctive delay in diagnosis, because of low thyroid hormone levels.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 455-459 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of Clinical Pathology |
| Volume | 62 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2009 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Cite this
Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary tumours : Significance of "atypical adenomas" in a series of 10 patients and association with Hashimoto thyroiditis as a cause of delay in diagnosis. / Marucci, G.; Faustini-Fustini, M.; Righi, A.; Pasquini, E.; Frank, G.; Agati, R.; Foschini, M. P.
In: Journal of Clinical Pathology, Vol. 62, No. 5, 05.2009, p. 455-459.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary tumours
T2 - Significance of "atypical adenomas" in a series of 10 patients and association with Hashimoto thyroiditis as a cause of delay in diagnosis
AU - Marucci, G.
AU - Faustini-Fustini, M.
AU - Righi, A.
AU - Pasquini, E.
AU - Frank, G.
AU - Agati, R.
AU - Foschini, M. P.
PY - 2009/5
Y1 - 2009/5
N2 - Background: Thyrotropin-secreting adenomas (TSH-As) are rare and, according to the World Health Organization criteria (WHO 2004), a significant proportion of them present features of atypical adenomas at the time of diagnosis. Aims: To determine the frequency of "atypical adenomas" and the significance of this definition as regards follow-up. To investigate their possible association with Hashimoto thyroiditis, leading to a delay in diagnosis. Methods: Case notes for patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery between 1992 and 2006 were retrieved. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 180 months. Results: Ten cases of TSH-As out of 908 pituitary adenomas were selected. Before surgery, eight patients had hyperthyroidism, one was euthyroid and another one showed hypothyroidism associated with Hashimoto thyroiditis. All cases were macroadenomas; six of them were invasive. Three cases met the criteria for classification as atypical. In none of the cases, including the three "atypical adenomas", were clinical or radiological signs of recurrence observed. Conclusions: The three cases with features of atypical adenoma did not recur or metastasise, suggesting that, at least in the present series, a strict relationship between the morphological criteria for diagnosing atypical adenomas and biological behaviour may be sometimes lacking. Furthermore, the casual association of TSH-As with Hashimoto thyroiditis may led to an adjunctive delay in diagnosis, because of low thyroid hormone levels.
AB - Background: Thyrotropin-secreting adenomas (TSH-As) are rare and, according to the World Health Organization criteria (WHO 2004), a significant proportion of them present features of atypical adenomas at the time of diagnosis. Aims: To determine the frequency of "atypical adenomas" and the significance of this definition as regards follow-up. To investigate their possible association with Hashimoto thyroiditis, leading to a delay in diagnosis. Methods: Case notes for patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery between 1992 and 2006 were retrieved. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 180 months. Results: Ten cases of TSH-As out of 908 pituitary adenomas were selected. Before surgery, eight patients had hyperthyroidism, one was euthyroid and another one showed hypothyroidism associated with Hashimoto thyroiditis. All cases were macroadenomas; six of them were invasive. Three cases met the criteria for classification as atypical. In none of the cases, including the three "atypical adenomas", were clinical or radiological signs of recurrence observed. Conclusions: The three cases with features of atypical adenoma did not recur or metastasise, suggesting that, at least in the present series, a strict relationship between the morphological criteria for diagnosing atypical adenomas and biological behaviour may be sometimes lacking. Furthermore, the casual association of TSH-As with Hashimoto thyroiditis may led to an adjunctive delay in diagnosis, because of low thyroid hormone levels.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=66349126365&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/jcp.2008.061523
DO - 10.1136/jcp.2008.061523
M3 - Article
VL - 62
SP - 455
EP - 459
JO - Journal of Clinical Pathology - Clinical Molecular Pathology
JF - Journal of Clinical Pathology - Clinical Molecular Pathology
SN - 0021-9746
IS - 5
ER -