Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026
07:43
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
20.0K
Pituitary acromegaly: not one disease
Sylvia L Asa1, Walter Kucharczyk2, Shereen Ezzat3
1Department of PathologyThe Endocrine Oncology Site Group, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada sylvia.asa@uhn.ca.
Endocrine-Related Cancer
|January 27, 2017
Summary
Acromegaly, traditionally seen as one type of pituitary adenoma, is now understood to involve diverse tumor types. This complexity necessitates personalized treatments and better risk assessment for acromegaly patients.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Acromegaly is typically characterized as a disorder arising from a benign pituitary adenoma.
- Recent findings suggest a broader spectrum of pituitary tumors associated with acromegaly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the heterogeneity of pituitary tumors in acromegaly.
- To emphasize the need for refined risk stratification and personalized therapies.
Main Methods:
- Review of increasing evidence on pituitary tumor diversity in acromegaly.
- Analysis of clinical, biochemical, and radiologic features.
- Consideration of underlying genetic and epigenetic changes.
Main Results:
- Acromegaly is associated with morphologically distinct pituitary tumors.
- These tumors exhibit variable clinical, biochemical, and radiologic features.
- Tumor heterogeneity is linked to genetic and epigenetic variations and impacts therapeutic outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Acromegaly is a complex disorder with diverse underlying pathologies.
- A refined clinicopathological risk stratification system is needed.
- Personalized, targeted therapeutic approaches are essential for managing acromegaly.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Adrenal Gland Disorders
3.7K
Adrenal gland disorders manifest when the production of adrenal hormones deviates from the norm, resulting in either excessive or insufficient concentrations.
Adrenal insufficiency, characterized by insufficient cortisol and aldosterone production, leads to conditions like Addison's disease. This disorder, affecting the adrenal cortex, exhibits symptoms such as skin bronzing, dehydration, low blood pressure, fatigue, and weight loss. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic ailment causing...
Adrenal insufficiency, characterized by insufficient cortisol and aldosterone production, leads to conditions like Addison's disease. This disorder, affecting the adrenal cortex, exhibits symptoms such as skin bronzing, dehydration, low blood pressure, fatigue, and weight loss. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic ailment causing...
3.7K
01:17The Pituitary Gland
14.2K
The pituitary is a small endocrine organ in the sphenoid bone under the hypothalamus. Primarily, the pituitary in adults has two distinct anatomical and functional regions— the anterior and posterior lobes. During human fetal development, a third pituitary gland region called the pars intermedia atrophies and disappears. However, some of its cells migrate and exist adjacent to the anterior pituitary in adults.
14.2K
01:27Major Hormones and Their Functions
2.3K
Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and...
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and...
2.3K
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
5.3K
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.3K
01:29Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
593
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...
593
01:25Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification
731
Cardiomyopathy, or CMP, is a group of diseases affecting the myocardial structure, impairing its ability to pump blood effectively. This condition can lead to arrhythmias, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death.Cardiomyopathies are classified into primary and secondary categories:Primary Cardiomyopathy refers to conditions involving only the heart muscle that are often idiopathic (of unknown cause) or genetic. They primarily affect the myocardium without the involvement of other systemic...
731