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Silent somatotroph pituitary adenomas: an update

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Abstract

Silent growth hormone adenomas (SGHA) are a rare entity of non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumors. Diagnosis is invariably made post-operatively of a tumor immunopositive for GH (and Pit-1 in selected cases) but without clinical acromegaly. Mainly young females are affected, and tumors are often uncovered by investigation for headaches or oligoamenorrhea. Integration of clinical, pathological and biochemical data is required for proper diagnosis. Beside normal IGF-1 levels, a third of SGHAs displays elevated GH levels and some will eventually progress to acromegaly. Almost two-thirds will be mixed GH-prolactin tumors and sparsely-granulated monohormonal GH tumors seems the more aggressive subtype. Recurrence and need for radiation is higher than other non-functioning tumors so close follow-up is warranted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    Fabienne Langlois

  2. Department of Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Randall Woltjer

  3. Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Justin S. Cetas & Maria Fleseriu

  4. Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Fabienne Langlois & Maria Fleseriu

  5. Northwest Pituitary Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Fabienne Langlois, Justin S. Cetas & Maria Fleseriu

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  1. Fabienne Langlois
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  2. Randall Woltjer
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Correspondence to Maria Fleseriu.

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Langlois, F., Woltjer, R., Cetas, J.S. et al. Silent somatotroph pituitary adenomas: an update. Pituitary 21, 194–202 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-017-0858-y

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