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An atypical acidophil cell line tumor showing focal differentiation toward both growth hormone and prolactin cells

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Abstract

We report a case of giant pituitary adenoma in a child. Computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed a suprasellar extension tumor mass with hydrocephalus. There was no clinical evidence of acromegaly, gigantism, and other hormonal symptoms. Endocrinologic studies showed within normal value of serum growth hormone (GH: 4.2 ng/mL) and slightly increased levels of prolactin (PRL: 78 ng/mL) and other pituitary hormone values were within normal range. On suppression test by bromocryptin, both GH and PRL levels were reduced. Histopathological findings revealed that the tumor consisted of predominantly chromophobic and partly eosinophilic adenoma cells. Immunohistochemical staining detected GH and PRL in a small number of distinctly different adenoma cells, respectively. Nonradioactivein situ hybridization (ISH) also showed GH and PRL mRNA expression in identical immunopositive cells. Electron microscopy (EM) demonstrated adenoma cells with moderate or small numbers of two types of dense granules and without fibrous body which are characteristic of sparsely granulated GH-cell adenomas. The adenoma does not fit into any classification but may be an atypical acidophil cell line tumor showing focal differentiation toward both GH and PRL cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Heiji Naritaka MD, Shigeru Furuhata MD, Yuji Kamiguchi MD, Mitsuhiro Otani MD & Shigeo Toya MD

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Municipal Hospital of Urawa City, Saitama, Japan

    Junichi Okui MD

  3. Department of Pathology, Kitasato, University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Sagamihara, 228, Kanagawa, Japan

    Heiji Naritaka MD, Toru Kameya MD, Yuichi Sato MD, PhD & Shigeru Furuhata MD

Authors
  1. Heiji Naritaka MD
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  2. Toru Kameya MD
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  3. Yuichi Sato MD, PhD
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  4. Shigeru Furuhata MD
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  5. Junichi Okui MD
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  6. Yuji Kamiguchi MD
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  7. Mitsuhiro Otani MD
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  8. Shigeo Toya MD
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Naritaka, H., Kameya, T., Sato, Y. et al. An atypical acidophil cell line tumor showing focal differentiation toward both growth hormone and prolactin cells. Endocr Pathol 6, 239–246 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02739888

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