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Histopathological features of post-mortem pituitaries: A retrospective analysis
Francisco José Tortosa Vallecillos1, Santiago Ortiz Fernández2
1MD, specialist in Pathological Anatomy - Department of Pathology, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Lisboa. Lecturer, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa. PhD Student at the Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.
Revista Da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992)
|September 23, 2016
Summary
Post-mortem analysis of 167 pituitary glands in Portugal revealed common incidental findings like Rathke cleft cysts and hyperplasia. Subclinical pituitary pathology in older adults mirrors global trends.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pathology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Silent pituitary lesions are increasingly detected via neuroimaging.
- Limited post-mortem data exists, particularly in Portugal, necessitating updated prevalence studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of normal and incidental pituitary pathologies in post-mortem samples.
- To analyze associations between pituitary findings and clinical data.
- To assess the clinical relevance of incidental pituitary findings.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective histological review of 167 pituitary glands from autopsies (2012-2014).
- Classification of morphological patterns into normal variants, infectious-inflammatory/metabolic/vascular disorders, and primary/secondary proliferations.
- Review of associated medical records for clinical data.
Main Results:
- 57 glands were normal; 51 had Rathke cleft cysts; 44 showed adenohypophysis hyperplasia.
- 20 adenomas were identified (8 PRL-producing, 5 ACTH-producing), linked to obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
- Two cases of metastasis were noted.
Conclusions:
- Subclinical pituitary pathology in Portugal aligns with international findings.
- Pathologies appear more prevalent in older age groups within the studied population.
