J Korean Med Sci.  2007 Sep;22(Suppl):S61-S65. 10.3346/jkms.2007.22.S.S61.

The Characteristics of Incidental Pituitary Microadenomas in 120 Korean Forensic Autopsy Cases

• Kim JH
• Seo JS
• Lee BW
• Lee SY
• Jeon SH
• Lee KB

• KMID: 1785790
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2007.22.S.S61

Abstract

To investigate the characteristics of incidental pituitary microadenomas, we examined 120 pituitary glands from Korean forensic autopsy cases, from which eight tumors were identified (incidence 6.7%). The average age of the affected subjects was 50 yr (range: 33-96 yr) with a female predominance. The maximum diameters of the tumors ranged from 0.4 to 5.4 mm (mean: 2.8 mm). Immunohistochemical analysis of pituitary hormones revealed three growth hormone-secreting adenomas, one prolactin-producing adenoma, one gonadotropin-producing adenoma, one plurihormonal adenoma, and two null cell adenomas. MIB-1 staining for Ki-67 antigen showed no positive expression. The microvessel density (MVD) of the pituitary microadenomas ranged from 2.3 to 11.6% (mean: 5.3%) and was significantly lower than that of nonneoplastic pituitary glands (11.9-20.1%, mean: 14.8%). Our study provides reference data on incidental pituitary microadenomas in the Korean population.

Keyword

Pituitary Neoplasm; Pituitary Adenoma; Occult Primary Neoplasm; Autopsy, Koreans

MeSH Terms

Adenoma/blood supply/epidemiology/metabolism/*pathology
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Autopsy
Female
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism
Korea/epidemiology
Male
Microcirculation/pathology
Middle Aged
Pituitary Hormones/metabolism
Pituitary Neoplasms/blood supply/epidemiology/metabolism/*pathology

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Pituitary microadenoma (H&E stain, ×100). (B) Loss of the normal acinar and stromal patterns and compression of the adjacent pituitary parenchyma (reticulin stain, ×100). (C) Positive immunoreactivity with prolactin (×100).

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  Fig. 2 Microvessel density measurement using an image analyzer with CD 34 immunostain (×200).

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  Fig. 3 Microvessel density in microadenomas and non-neoplastic pituitary gland showing a significant difference.

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