Pituitary Pathology Flashcards

1
Q

what is the anterior pituitary also known as

A

adenohypophysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is the anterior pituitary derived from

A

rathke’s pouch

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what hormones does the anterior pituitary secrete

A

trophic: TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH

non-trophic: GH and Prolactin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is the posterior pituitary also known as

A

neurohypophysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what does the pituitary consist of

A

extension of neural tissue consists of modified glial cells and axonal processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what hormones does the posterior pituitary secrete

A

ADH (vasopressin) and oxytocin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

where are posterior pituitary hormones produced

A

hypothalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

how are the cells in the pituitary arranged

A

in islands like other endocrine glands or arranged in clusters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

are pituitary adenomas benign or malignant

A

benign

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what cells are pituitary adenomas derived from

A

anterior pituitary cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

how common are pituitary adenomas

A

relatively common (10% intra-cranial tumours)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what syndrome is associated with pituitary adenomas

A

MEN1 (Wermer Syndrome)

pituitary adenomas are quite characteristic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what is significant about macro-adenomas (over 1cm)

A

can cause symptoms due to compression

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

how are pituitary adenomas classified

A

by the cell type/hormone produced

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

which is the most common pituitary adenoma

A

prolactinoma (30%)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what can be some symptoms of large adenomas and why

A

visual field defects (press on optic chiasma-bitemporal hemianopia), can cause pressure atrophy of surrounding normal tissue, infarction can. lead to panhypopituitarism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what is panhypopituitarism

A

lose all anterior pituitary, ischaemic necrosis along with tumour

18
Q

what are some symptoms of a prolactinoma

A

infertility, lack of labido, amenorrhea (25%)

19
Q

what is the second most common pituitary adenoma

A

growth hormone secreting

20
Q

what can GH cause

A

increase in Insulin Like Growth Factor (IGF)

21
Q

what happens in growth hormone pituitary adenoma

A

stimulation of growth of bone, cartilage and connective tissue

22
Q

what are some symptoms of growth hormone pituitary adenoma

A

giantism or acromegaly

23
Q

what does ACTH secreting pituitary adenomas cause

A

cushings, bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia

24
Q

how common are pituitary carcinomas

A

rare (less than 1%)

25
Q

are pituitary carcinomas usually functional or non-functional

A

functional (prolactin or ACTH)

26
Q

how is pituitary hypofunction usually presented

A

non-specifically related to all anterior hormones (panhypopituitarism)

27
Q

where is a craniopharyngioma derived from

A

Rathke’s pouch

28
Q

what percentage of intracranial tumours are craniopharyngiomas

A

1-5%

29
Q

what are some characteristics of a craniopharyngioma

A

slow growing, often cystic and may calcify

30
Q

do craniopharyngiomas usually arise within the sella or suprasellar

A

suprasellar

31
Q

what are the bimodal incidences of craniopharyngiomas

A

5-15 and 6th-7th decade of life

32
Q

what are some symptoms of a craniopharyngioma

A

headaches and visual disturbances (children might have growth retardation)

33
Q

how good is the prognosis of a craniopharyngioma

A

excellent especially if under 5cm

34
Q

what can happen following radiation in the context of a craniopharyngioma

A

SCC

35
Q

how are posterior pituitary syndromes diagnosed

A

biochemical and physiological diagnostic process

36
Q

what are the 2 posterior pituitary syndromes

A

diabetes insipidus and SIADH secretion

37
Q

what are the 2 types of diabetes insipidus

A

central and nephrogenic

38
Q

what causes central diabetes insipidus

A

ADH deficiency

trauma (inc surgery), tumours and inflammatory disorders of hypothalamus and pituitary

39
Q

what causes nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

A

renal resistance to ADH effects

40
Q

what causes SIADH secretion

A

ectopic production of ADH-paraneoplastic syndrome