TSH-secreting pituitary tumor. A case report

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Oncology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Thyrotoxicosis can stem from various causes, including rare pituitary adenomas.
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secreting pituitary tumors are uncommon and challenging to diagnose.

Observation:

• A 43-year-old man presented with recurrent thyrotoxicosis despite normal triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels.
• Elevated serum TSH levels indicated a TSH-secreting pituitary tumor.

Findings:

• Transsphenoidal surgery was performed to remove the pituitary tumor.
• Histopathological analysis revealed cellular pleomorphism and regressive changes.
• Nuclear DNA analysis demonstrated a single cell line and an aneuploid DNA pattern.
• In vitro culture confirmed the tumor exclusively secreted TSH.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering TSH-secreting pituitary tumors in thyrotoxicosis.
• Understanding the genetic and cellular characteristics of these tumors aids in diagnosis and treatment.
• Surgical resection is a viable treatment option for TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas.