Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025
07:43
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
19.0K
Idiopathic granulomatous hypophysitis mimicking adenoma
Merve Meryem Kiran1, Ercan Bal2, Ayca Dilsad Kuratmer3
1Department of Pathology, Ankara Bilkent State Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Summary
Idiopathic granulomatous hypophysitis is a rare pituitary inflammation that can mimic adenoma. Diagnosis relies on histopathology and ruling out systemic causes for this uncommon condition.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pathology
Background:
- Hypophysitis, inflammation of the pituitary gland, is rare and can be primary or secondary to systemic diseases.
- Granulomatous hypophysitis is an inflammatory condition accounting for less than 1% of pituitary lesions, often mimicking pituitary adenoma.
Observation:
- A 32-year-old woman presented with symptoms including weight gain, galactorrhea, and blurred vision.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed a cystic, nodular lesion in the pituitary gland's intermediate lobe, initially diagnosed as an adenoma.
Findings:
- Surgical histopathology confirmed granulomas composed of epithelioid histiocytes, multinuclear giant cells, and mononuclear inflammatory cells.
- The findings indicated idiopathic granulomatous hypophysitis, an extremely rare form of pituitary inflammation.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of histopathological examination in diagnosing pituitary lesions.
- Ruling out systemic causes is crucial for diagnosing idiopathic granulomatous hypophysitis, differentiating it from other pituitary conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Adrenal Gland Disorders
1.8K
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...
1.8K
01:17The Pituitary Gland
7.2K
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.
7.2K
01:15Hypoglycemia and Glucagon
330
Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
330
01:17Gastritis-II: Pathophysiology
518
Gastritis is marked by disruption of the mucosal barrier that usually protects the stomach tissue from digestive juices and manifests in acute and chronic forms.
In acute gastritis, the gastric mucosa becomes swollen and red and undergoes superficial erosion. Superficial ulceration may lead to bleeding.
In chronic gastritis, persistent or repeated insults lead to chronic inflammatory changes and, eventually, thinning or atrophy of the gastric tissue.
Gastritis can stem from various causes, each...
In acute gastritis, the gastric mucosa becomes swollen and red and undergoes superficial erosion. Superficial ulceration may lead to bleeding.
In chronic gastritis, persistent or repeated insults lead to chronic inflammatory changes and, eventually, thinning or atrophy of the gastric tissue.
Gastritis can stem from various causes, each...
518
01:09GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
5.9K
Some GPCRs transmit signals through adenylyl cyclase (AC), a transmembrane enzyme. AC helps synthesize second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). AC catalyzes cyclization reaction and converts ATP to cAMP by releasing a pyrophosphate. The pyrophosphate is further hydrolyzed to phosphate by the enzyme pyrophosphatase, which drives cAMP synthesis to completion. However, cAMP is rapidly degraded to 5′ AMP by the enzymes phosphodiesterase (PDE), preventing overstimulation of...
5.9K