Follow-up hormonal controls on a HGH secreting pituitary adenoma. Pre- and postoperative study

The case of a 12 2/12-year-old boy with an HGH secreting eosinophilic adenoma is presented. The histologic investigation included conventional and ultrastructural techniques. The pre- and postoperative (1, 7, 11, and 20 months) hormonal controls are analyzed, indicating the persistence of HGH anteropituitary activity, even though surgical sectioning of the pituitary stalk was performed and the activities of thyroid, corticoadrenal and gonadotropin functions decreased. It is suggested that the hypothalamo-pituitary relationship may be maintained by extraportal venous circulations.