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Dr.prakash shende 
MD ( MEDICINE) CCD 
CONSULTANT DIABETOGOLIST & CARDIOLOGIST 
THYROID SPECIALIST 
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR 
DR.D Y P H PIMPRI
Introduction 
 Diseases of the hypothalamus and pituitary are rare, 
 Annual incidence is ∼1:50000 
 The anterior pituitary is "master gland" 
 The anterior pituitary gland produces six major 
hormones: 
 (1) prolactin (PRL), 
 (2) growth hormone (GH), 
 (3) adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), 
 (4) luteinizing hormone (LH), 
 (5) follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and 
 (6) thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Pitutary part 1
FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY 
 The pituitary gland is enclosed in the sella turcica and 
bridged over by a fold of dura mater called the 
diaphragma sellae, with the sphenoidal air sinuses 
below and the optic chiasm above. 
 The cavernous sinuses are lateral to the pituitary fossa 
and contain the 3rd, 4th and 6th cranial nerves and 
the internal carotid arteries. 
 The gland is composed of two lobes, anterior and 
posterior, and is connected to the hypothalamus by 
the infundibular stalk, which has portal vessels 
carrying blood from the median eminence of the 
hypothalamus to the anterior lobe and nerve fibres to 
the posterior lobe.
CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES OF THE PITUITARY 
AND HYPOTHALAMUS 
 Hormone excess- 
Anterior pituitary- 
Prolactinoma 
Acromegaly 
Cushing's disease 
Rare TSH-, LH- and FSHomas 
 Secondary - Disconnection hyperprolactinaemia 
 Hypothalamus and posterior pituitary – 
Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
 Hormone deficiency – 
Anterior pituitary- Hypopituitarism 
secondary - e.g. GnRH deficiency (Kallmann's 
syndrome) 
Hypothalamus and posterior pituitary - Cranial 
diabetes insipidus 
 Hormone resistance – 
Growth hormone resistance (Laron dwarfism) 
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus 
 Non-functioning tumours- 
Pituitary adenoma 
Craniopharyngioma 
Metastatic tumours
Hypothalamic and Anterior Pituitary Insufficiency 
 Hypopituitarism results from impaired production of 
one or more of the anterior pituitary trophic 
hormones. 
 Reduced pituitary function can result from inherited 
disorders; more commonly, it is acquired and reflects 
the mass effects of tumors or the consequences of 
inflammation or vascular damage.
Etiology of Hypopituitarism - 
 Development/structural 
Transcription factor defect 
Pituitary dysplasia/aplasia 
Congenital CNS mass, encephalocele 
Primary empty sella 
Congenital hypothalamic disorders (septo-optic dysplasia, Prader-Willi syndrome, Laurence-Moon-Biedl 
syndrome, Kallmann syndrome) 
 Traumatic 
Surgical resection 
Radiation damage 
Head injuries 
 Neoplastic 
Pituitary adenoma 
Parasellar mass (meningioma, germinoma, ependymoma, glioma) 
Rathke's cyst 
Craniopharyngioma 
Hypothalamic hamartoma, gangliocytoma 
Pituitary metastases (breast, lung, colon carcinoma) 
Lymphoma and leukemia 
Meningioma 
 Infiltrative/inflammatory 
Lymphocytic hypophysitis 
Hemochromatosis 
Sarcoidosis 
Histiocytosis X 
Granulomatous hypophysitis
 Infiltrative/inflammatory 
Lymphocytic hypophysitis 
Hemochromatosis 
Sarcoidosis 
Histiocytosis X 
Granulomatous hypophysitis 
 Vascular 
Pituitary apoplexy 
Pregnancy-related (infarction with diabetes; postpartum 
necrosis) 
Sickle cell disease 
Arteritis 
 Infections 
Fungal (histoplasmosis) 
Parasitic (toxoplasmosis) 
Tuberculosis 
Pneumocystis carinii
 Kallmann Syndrome = Defective hypothalamic 
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) synthesis & 
associated with anosmia or hyposmia due to olfactory bulb 
agenesis or hypoplasia 
 The syndrome may also be associated with color blindness, 
optic atrophy, nerve deafness, cleft palate, renal 
abnormalities, cryptorchidism, and neurologic 
abnormalities such as mirror movements. 
 Defects in the KAL gene, which maps to chromosome 
Xp22.3 
 Bardet-Biedl Syndrome- rare genetically heterogeneous 
disorder characterized by mental retardation, renal 
abnormalities, obesity, and hexadactyly, brachydactyly, or 
syndactyly. 
 Central diabetes insipidus may or may not be associated. 
GnRH deficiency occurs in 75% of males and half of 
affected females.
 Acquired Hypopituitarism = 
 Pituitary Apoplexy- 
 Acute intrapituitary hemorrhagic 
 Damage to the pituitary and surrounding sellar structures. 
 Its occur spontaneously in a preexisting adenoma; post-partum (Sheehan's 
syndrome); or in association with diabetes, hypertension, sickle cell anemia, or 
acute shock. 
 The hyperplastic enlargement of the pituitary during pregnancy increases the 
risk for hemorrhage and infarction. 
 It is an endocrine emergency that may result in severe hypoglycemia, 
hypotension, central nervous system (CNS) hemorrhage, and death. 
 Acute symptoms may include severe headache with signs of meningeal 
irritation, bilateral visual changes, ophthalmoplegia, and, in severe cases, 
cardiovascular collapse and loss of consciousness. 
 Pituitary computed tomography (CT) or MRI may reveal signs of intratumoral 
or sellar hemorrhage, with deviation of the pituitary stalk and compression of 
pituitary tissue. 
 Patients with no evident visual loss or impaired consciousness can be observed 
and managed conservatively with high-dose glucocorticoids. 
 Those with significant or progressive visual loss or loss of consciousness require 
urgent surgical decompression. 
 Visual recovery after surgery is inversely correlated with the length of time after 
the acute event. Therefore, severe ophthalmoplegia or visual deficits are 
indications for early surgery. Hypopituitarism is very common after apoplexy.
 Empty Sella- 
 A partial or apparently totally empty sella is often an 
incidental MRI finding. 
 These patients usually have normal pituitary function, 
implying that the surrounding rim of pituitary tissue is 
fully functional. 
 Hypopituitarism, however, may develop insidiously. 
 Rarely, small but functional pituitary adenomas may 
arise within the rim of pituitary tissue, and these are 
not always visible on MRI
Tests of Pituitary Sufficiency 
 Growth hormone – 
Test- Insulin tolerance test: 
Blood Samples- Regular insulin (0.05–0.15 U/kg IV) – 
30, 0, 30, 60, 120 min for glucose and GH 
Interpretation- Glucose < 40 mg/dL; 
GH should be >3 g/L, 
 Prolactin – 
TRH test: 200–500 g IV 
Blood Samples- 0, 20, and 60 min for TSH and PRL 
Interpretation- Normal prolactin is >2 g/L and increase >200% of 
baseline 
 ACTH-Test- 
Standard ACTH stimulation test: ACTH 1-24 (Cosyntropin), 
0.25 sa mg IM or IV m 
Blood sample - 0, 30, 60 min for cortisol and aldosterone 
Interpretation- Normal response is cortisol >21 g/dL and 
dosterone response of >4 ng/dL above baseline
 TSH 
Test- Basal thyroid function tests: T4, T3, TS 
sample- Basal tests 
Interpretation- Low free thyroid hormone levels in the 
setting of TSH levels that are not appropriately 
increased
Hypopituitarism: Treatment 
 ACTH-Hydrocortisone 
(10–20 mg A.M.; 5–10 mg P.M.) 
Cortisone acetate (25 mg A.M.; 12.5 mg P.M.) 
Prednisone (5 mg A.M.; 2.5 mg P.M.) 
 TSH L-Thyroxine (0.075–0.15 mg daily) 
 FSH/LH male 
Testosterone enanthate (200 mg IM every 2 weeks) 
Testosterone skin patch (5 mg/d) 
Females 
Conjugated estrogen (0.65–1.25 mg qd for 25 days) 
Progesterone (5–10 mg qd) on days 16–25 
Estradiol skin patch (0.5 mg, every other day) 
For fertility: Menopausal gonadotropins, human chorionic 
gonadotropins 
GH Adults: - Somatotropin (0.1–1.25 mg SC qd) 
Children: Somatotropin [0.02–0.05 (mg/kg per day)] 
Vasopressin- Intranasal desmopressin (5–20 g twice daily) 
Oral 300–600 g qd
PITUITARY AND (PARA-)SELLAR TUMOURS 
 Lesion may simply be an incidental discovery during 
neuroimaging for another indication (e.g. the investigation 
of cerebrovascular disease). 
 Sellar and para-sellar tumours produce a variety of mass 
effects, depending on their size and location. 
 The most common is headache, which is due to 
stretching of the diaphragma sellae. 
 Compression of the neural connections between the retina 
and occipital cortex may lead to a visual field defect. – 
bitemporal hemianopia or upper quadrantanopia, any 
type of visual field defect can result from suprasellar 
extension of a tumour because of compression of the optic 
nerve (unilateral loss of acuity or scotoma) or the optic 
tract (homonymous hemianopia). 
 Lateral extension into the cavernous sinus with 
subsequent compression of the 3rd, 4th or 6th cranial 
nerves may cause diplopia and strabismus.
Pitutary part 1
Aetiology and investigations- 
 Majority of intrasellar tumours are pituitary 
macroadenomas (most commonly non-functioning 
adenomas, ) most suprasellar masses are 
craniopharyngiomas , and para-sellar masses are most 
commonly meningiomas. 
 Diagnosis requires surgical biopsy. 
 All patients with (para-)sellar space-occupying lesions 
should have pituitary function test
Management 
 If there is evidence of pressure on visual pathways, then 
urgent treatment is required. 
 The chances of recovery of a visual field defect are 
proportional to the duration of symptoms; full recovery 
is unlikely if the defect has been present for longer than 
4 months. 
 Serum prolactin is measured before emergency surgery 
is performed. 
 If the prolactin is > 5000 mU/l, then the lesion may be a 
macroprolactinoma and a therapeutic trial of a 
dopamine agonist for just a few days may successfully 
shrink the lesion and make surgery unnecessary
Surgery 
Radiot 
herapy Medical Comment 
Non-functioning 
pituitary macroadenoma 
1st line 2nd line - 
Prolactinoma 2nd line 2nd line 1st line 
Dopamine agonists 
Dopamine agonists 
usually cause 
macroadenomas to 
shrink 
Acromegaly 1st line 2nd line 2nd line 
Somatostatin analogues 
Dopamine agonists 
GH receptor antagonists 
Medical therapy does not 
reliably cause 
macroadenomas to 
shrink 
Cushing's disease 1st line 2nd line - Radiotherapy is used in 
children and to prevent 
Nelson's syndrome 
Craniopharyngioma 1st line 2nd line
 Most operations on the pituitary are performed by the 
trans-sphenoidal approach. 
 The pituitary fossa is approached via the sphenoid 
sinus from an incision under the upper lip or through 
the nose. 
 Transfrontal surgery via a craniotomy is reserved for 
suprasellar tumours. 
 Pituitary function should be retested 4-6 weeks 
following surgery.
HYPERPROLACTINAEMIA- 
 Hyperprolactinaemia is a common biochemical 
abnormality. 
 The cardinal features are galactorrhoea and 
hypogonadism. 
 Galactorrhoea describes lactation without 
breastfeeding. 
 Prolactin stimulates milk secretion but not breast 
development, so that galactorrhoea almost never 
occurs in men.
HYPERPROLACTINAEMIA 
 Physiological Stress (e.g. post-seizure) 
 Pregnancy 
 Lactation 
 Nipple stimulation 
 Sleep 
 Coitus 
 Exercise 
 Baby crying 
 Drugs Dopamine antagonists Antipsychotics (phenothiazines and butyrophenones) 
 Antidepressants 
 Antiemetics (e.g. metoclopramide, domperidone) 
 Dopamine-depleting drugs Reserpine 
 Methyldopa 
 Oestrogens Oral contraceptive pill 
 Pathological Common Disconnection hyperprolactinaemia (e.g. non-functioning 
pituitary macroadenoma) 
 Prolactinoma (usually microadenoma) 
 Primary hypothyroidism 
 Polycystic ovarian syndrome 
 Macroprolactinaemia 
 Uncommon Hypothalamic disease 
 Pituitary tumour secreting prolactin and growth hormone 
 Renal failure
 Prolactinoma - Most prolactinomas in pre-menopausal 
women are microadenomas. 
 In men and post-menopausal women, presentation is 
often much more insidious and the tumours are almost 
invariably macroadenomas at the time of diagnosis. 
 Macroprolactin (or 'big, big prolactin') is prolactin 
bound to an IgG antibody. 
 Many prolactin assays do not distinguish 
macroprolactin from monomeric (i.e. unbound) 
prolactin. 
 Identification requires gel filtration chromatography or 
polyethylene glycol precipitation techniques. 
 Macroprolactin cannot cross blood vessel walls to reach 
prolactin receptors in target tissues and so is less likely 
to cause the classical symptoms of hyperprolactinaemia.
 Presentation and Diagnosis- 
 Amenorrhea, galactorrhea, and infertility are the hallmarks 
of hyperprolactinemia in women. 
 If hyperprolactinemia is sustained, vertebral bone mineral 
density can be reduced. 
 Patients may also complain of decreased libido, weight 
gain, and mild hirsutism. 
 In men with hyperprolactinemia, diminished libido, 
infertility, or visual loss (from optic nerve compression) are 
the usual presenting symptoms. 
 Gonadotropin suppression leads to reduced testosterone, 
impotence, and oligospermia.. 
 The diagnosis of idiopathic hyperprolactinemia is made by 
exclusion of known causes of hyperprolactinemia in the 
setting of a normal pituitary MRI. 
 Some of these patients may harbor small microadenomas 
below MRI sensitivity (~2 mm).
 Investigations -. 
 Pregnancy should be excluded in all women of child-bearing potential. 
 The upper limit of serum prolactin is ∼500 mU/l (∼14 ng/ml). 
 In non-pregnant and non-lactating patients, monomeric prolactin 
concentrations of 500-1000 mU/l are likely to be induced by stress or 
drugs, and a repeat measurement is indicated. 
 Levels between 1000 and 5000 mU/l are likely to be due to either 
drugs, a microprolactinoma or 'disconnection' hyperprolactinaemia. 
 Levels above 5000 mU/l are highly suggestive of a macroprolactinoma, 
and the higher the level, the bigger the tumour. 
 Some macroprolactinomas cause levels over 100 000 mU/l. 
 Patients with prolactin excess should have tests of gonadal function 
and T4 and TSH measured to exclude primary hypothyroidism causing 
TRH-induced prolactin excess. 
 Unless the prolactin falls after withdrawal of relevant drug therapy, a 
serum prolactin of > 1000 mU/l is an indication for MRI or CT scan of 
the hypothalamus and pituitary. 
 Patients with a macroadenoma also need tests for hypopituitarism
Management 
 Medical -Medical Dopamine agonist drugs are first-line 
therapy . 
 In patients with macroadenomas, drugs can only be 
withdrawn after curative surgery or radiotherapy and 
under close supervision. 
 DOPAMINE AGONIST THERAPY: DRUGS USED TO 
TREAT PROLACTINOMAS- 
 Bromocriptine 2.5-15 mg/day 
8-12-hourly 
 Available for parenteral use 
Short half-life; useful in treating infertility 
Proven long-term efficacy Ergotamine-like side-effects 
(nausea, headache, postural hypotension, 
constipation)
 Cabergoline 250-1000 μg/week 
2 doses/week Long-acting 
Reported to have fewer ergotamine-like side-effects Limited data 
on safety in pregnancy 
Quinagolide 50-150 μg/day 
Once daily 
A non-ergot with few side-effects 
Untested in pregnancy 
 Surgical - Dopamine agonists not only lower prolactin levels, but 
shrink the majority of prolactin-secreting macroadenomas. 
Thus, surgical decompression is not usually necessary unless the 
macroadenoma is cystic. 
However, in patients who are intolerant of dopamine agonists, 
microadenomas can be removed selectively by trans-sphenoidal 
surgery with a cure rate of about 80%. 
The cure rate for surgery in macroadenomas is lower. 
 Radiotherapy- External irradiation may be required for some 
macroadenomas to prevent regrowth if dopamine agonists are 
stopped
Pitutary part 1

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Pitutary part 1

  • 1. Dr.prakash shende MD ( MEDICINE) CCD CONSULTANT DIABETOGOLIST & CARDIOLOGIST THYROID SPECIALIST ASSISTANT PROFESSOR DR.D Y P H PIMPRI
  • 2. Introduction  Diseases of the hypothalamus and pituitary are rare,  Annual incidence is ∼1:50000  The anterior pituitary is "master gland"  The anterior pituitary gland produces six major hormones:  (1) prolactin (PRL),  (2) growth hormone (GH),  (3) adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH),  (4) luteinizing hormone (LH),  (5) follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and  (6) thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
  • 4. FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY  The pituitary gland is enclosed in the sella turcica and bridged over by a fold of dura mater called the diaphragma sellae, with the sphenoidal air sinuses below and the optic chiasm above.  The cavernous sinuses are lateral to the pituitary fossa and contain the 3rd, 4th and 6th cranial nerves and the internal carotid arteries.  The gland is composed of two lobes, anterior and posterior, and is connected to the hypothalamus by the infundibular stalk, which has portal vessels carrying blood from the median eminence of the hypothalamus to the anterior lobe and nerve fibres to the posterior lobe.
  • 5. CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES OF THE PITUITARY AND HYPOTHALAMUS  Hormone excess- Anterior pituitary- Prolactinoma Acromegaly Cushing's disease Rare TSH-, LH- and FSHomas  Secondary - Disconnection hyperprolactinaemia  Hypothalamus and posterior pituitary – Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
  • 6.  Hormone deficiency – Anterior pituitary- Hypopituitarism secondary - e.g. GnRH deficiency (Kallmann's syndrome) Hypothalamus and posterior pituitary - Cranial diabetes insipidus  Hormone resistance – Growth hormone resistance (Laron dwarfism) Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus  Non-functioning tumours- Pituitary adenoma Craniopharyngioma Metastatic tumours
  • 7. Hypothalamic and Anterior Pituitary Insufficiency  Hypopituitarism results from impaired production of one or more of the anterior pituitary trophic hormones.  Reduced pituitary function can result from inherited disorders; more commonly, it is acquired and reflects the mass effects of tumors or the consequences of inflammation or vascular damage.
  • 8. Etiology of Hypopituitarism -  Development/structural Transcription factor defect Pituitary dysplasia/aplasia Congenital CNS mass, encephalocele Primary empty sella Congenital hypothalamic disorders (septo-optic dysplasia, Prader-Willi syndrome, Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome, Kallmann syndrome)  Traumatic Surgical resection Radiation damage Head injuries  Neoplastic Pituitary adenoma Parasellar mass (meningioma, germinoma, ependymoma, glioma) Rathke's cyst Craniopharyngioma Hypothalamic hamartoma, gangliocytoma Pituitary metastases (breast, lung, colon carcinoma) Lymphoma and leukemia Meningioma  Infiltrative/inflammatory Lymphocytic hypophysitis Hemochromatosis Sarcoidosis Histiocytosis X Granulomatous hypophysitis
  • 9.  Infiltrative/inflammatory Lymphocytic hypophysitis Hemochromatosis Sarcoidosis Histiocytosis X Granulomatous hypophysitis  Vascular Pituitary apoplexy Pregnancy-related (infarction with diabetes; postpartum necrosis) Sickle cell disease Arteritis  Infections Fungal (histoplasmosis) Parasitic (toxoplasmosis) Tuberculosis Pneumocystis carinii
  • 10.  Kallmann Syndrome = Defective hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) synthesis & associated with anosmia or hyposmia due to olfactory bulb agenesis or hypoplasia  The syndrome may also be associated with color blindness, optic atrophy, nerve deafness, cleft palate, renal abnormalities, cryptorchidism, and neurologic abnormalities such as mirror movements.  Defects in the KAL gene, which maps to chromosome Xp22.3  Bardet-Biedl Syndrome- rare genetically heterogeneous disorder characterized by mental retardation, renal abnormalities, obesity, and hexadactyly, brachydactyly, or syndactyly.  Central diabetes insipidus may or may not be associated. GnRH deficiency occurs in 75% of males and half of affected females.
  • 11.  Acquired Hypopituitarism =  Pituitary Apoplexy-  Acute intrapituitary hemorrhagic  Damage to the pituitary and surrounding sellar structures.  Its occur spontaneously in a preexisting adenoma; post-partum (Sheehan's syndrome); or in association with diabetes, hypertension, sickle cell anemia, or acute shock.  The hyperplastic enlargement of the pituitary during pregnancy increases the risk for hemorrhage and infarction.  It is an endocrine emergency that may result in severe hypoglycemia, hypotension, central nervous system (CNS) hemorrhage, and death.  Acute symptoms may include severe headache with signs of meningeal irritation, bilateral visual changes, ophthalmoplegia, and, in severe cases, cardiovascular collapse and loss of consciousness.  Pituitary computed tomography (CT) or MRI may reveal signs of intratumoral or sellar hemorrhage, with deviation of the pituitary stalk and compression of pituitary tissue.  Patients with no evident visual loss or impaired consciousness can be observed and managed conservatively with high-dose glucocorticoids.  Those with significant or progressive visual loss or loss of consciousness require urgent surgical decompression.  Visual recovery after surgery is inversely correlated with the length of time after the acute event. Therefore, severe ophthalmoplegia or visual deficits are indications for early surgery. Hypopituitarism is very common after apoplexy.
  • 12.  Empty Sella-  A partial or apparently totally empty sella is often an incidental MRI finding.  These patients usually have normal pituitary function, implying that the surrounding rim of pituitary tissue is fully functional.  Hypopituitarism, however, may develop insidiously.  Rarely, small but functional pituitary adenomas may arise within the rim of pituitary tissue, and these are not always visible on MRI
  • 13. Tests of Pituitary Sufficiency  Growth hormone – Test- Insulin tolerance test: Blood Samples- Regular insulin (0.05–0.15 U/kg IV) – 30, 0, 30, 60, 120 min for glucose and GH Interpretation- Glucose < 40 mg/dL; GH should be >3 g/L,  Prolactin – TRH test: 200–500 g IV Blood Samples- 0, 20, and 60 min for TSH and PRL Interpretation- Normal prolactin is >2 g/L and increase >200% of baseline  ACTH-Test- Standard ACTH stimulation test: ACTH 1-24 (Cosyntropin), 0.25 sa mg IM or IV m Blood sample - 0, 30, 60 min for cortisol and aldosterone Interpretation- Normal response is cortisol >21 g/dL and dosterone response of >4 ng/dL above baseline
  • 14.  TSH Test- Basal thyroid function tests: T4, T3, TS sample- Basal tests Interpretation- Low free thyroid hormone levels in the setting of TSH levels that are not appropriately increased
  • 15. Hypopituitarism: Treatment  ACTH-Hydrocortisone (10–20 mg A.M.; 5–10 mg P.M.) Cortisone acetate (25 mg A.M.; 12.5 mg P.M.) Prednisone (5 mg A.M.; 2.5 mg P.M.)  TSH L-Thyroxine (0.075–0.15 mg daily)  FSH/LH male Testosterone enanthate (200 mg IM every 2 weeks) Testosterone skin patch (5 mg/d) Females Conjugated estrogen (0.65–1.25 mg qd for 25 days) Progesterone (5–10 mg qd) on days 16–25 Estradiol skin patch (0.5 mg, every other day) For fertility: Menopausal gonadotropins, human chorionic gonadotropins GH Adults: - Somatotropin (0.1–1.25 mg SC qd) Children: Somatotropin [0.02–0.05 (mg/kg per day)] Vasopressin- Intranasal desmopressin (5–20 g twice daily) Oral 300–600 g qd
  • 16. PITUITARY AND (PARA-)SELLAR TUMOURS  Lesion may simply be an incidental discovery during neuroimaging for another indication (e.g. the investigation of cerebrovascular disease).  Sellar and para-sellar tumours produce a variety of mass effects, depending on their size and location.  The most common is headache, which is due to stretching of the diaphragma sellae.  Compression of the neural connections between the retina and occipital cortex may lead to a visual field defect. – bitemporal hemianopia or upper quadrantanopia, any type of visual field defect can result from suprasellar extension of a tumour because of compression of the optic nerve (unilateral loss of acuity or scotoma) or the optic tract (homonymous hemianopia).  Lateral extension into the cavernous sinus with subsequent compression of the 3rd, 4th or 6th cranial nerves may cause diplopia and strabismus.
  • 18. Aetiology and investigations-  Majority of intrasellar tumours are pituitary macroadenomas (most commonly non-functioning adenomas, ) most suprasellar masses are craniopharyngiomas , and para-sellar masses are most commonly meningiomas.  Diagnosis requires surgical biopsy.  All patients with (para-)sellar space-occupying lesions should have pituitary function test
  • 19. Management  If there is evidence of pressure on visual pathways, then urgent treatment is required.  The chances of recovery of a visual field defect are proportional to the duration of symptoms; full recovery is unlikely if the defect has been present for longer than 4 months.  Serum prolactin is measured before emergency surgery is performed.  If the prolactin is > 5000 mU/l, then the lesion may be a macroprolactinoma and a therapeutic trial of a dopamine agonist for just a few days may successfully shrink the lesion and make surgery unnecessary
  • 20. Surgery Radiot herapy Medical Comment Non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma 1st line 2nd line - Prolactinoma 2nd line 2nd line 1st line Dopamine agonists Dopamine agonists usually cause macroadenomas to shrink Acromegaly 1st line 2nd line 2nd line Somatostatin analogues Dopamine agonists GH receptor antagonists Medical therapy does not reliably cause macroadenomas to shrink Cushing's disease 1st line 2nd line - Radiotherapy is used in children and to prevent Nelson's syndrome Craniopharyngioma 1st line 2nd line
  • 21.  Most operations on the pituitary are performed by the trans-sphenoidal approach.  The pituitary fossa is approached via the sphenoid sinus from an incision under the upper lip or through the nose.  Transfrontal surgery via a craniotomy is reserved for suprasellar tumours.  Pituitary function should be retested 4-6 weeks following surgery.
  • 22. HYPERPROLACTINAEMIA-  Hyperprolactinaemia is a common biochemical abnormality.  The cardinal features are galactorrhoea and hypogonadism.  Galactorrhoea describes lactation without breastfeeding.  Prolactin stimulates milk secretion but not breast development, so that galactorrhoea almost never occurs in men.
  • 23. HYPERPROLACTINAEMIA  Physiological Stress (e.g. post-seizure)  Pregnancy  Lactation  Nipple stimulation  Sleep  Coitus  Exercise  Baby crying  Drugs Dopamine antagonists Antipsychotics (phenothiazines and butyrophenones)  Antidepressants  Antiemetics (e.g. metoclopramide, domperidone)  Dopamine-depleting drugs Reserpine  Methyldopa  Oestrogens Oral contraceptive pill  Pathological Common Disconnection hyperprolactinaemia (e.g. non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma)  Prolactinoma (usually microadenoma)  Primary hypothyroidism  Polycystic ovarian syndrome  Macroprolactinaemia  Uncommon Hypothalamic disease  Pituitary tumour secreting prolactin and growth hormone  Renal failure
  • 24.  Prolactinoma - Most prolactinomas in pre-menopausal women are microadenomas.  In men and post-menopausal women, presentation is often much more insidious and the tumours are almost invariably macroadenomas at the time of diagnosis.  Macroprolactin (or 'big, big prolactin') is prolactin bound to an IgG antibody.  Many prolactin assays do not distinguish macroprolactin from monomeric (i.e. unbound) prolactin.  Identification requires gel filtration chromatography or polyethylene glycol precipitation techniques.  Macroprolactin cannot cross blood vessel walls to reach prolactin receptors in target tissues and so is less likely to cause the classical symptoms of hyperprolactinaemia.
  • 25.  Presentation and Diagnosis-  Amenorrhea, galactorrhea, and infertility are the hallmarks of hyperprolactinemia in women.  If hyperprolactinemia is sustained, vertebral bone mineral density can be reduced.  Patients may also complain of decreased libido, weight gain, and mild hirsutism.  In men with hyperprolactinemia, diminished libido, infertility, or visual loss (from optic nerve compression) are the usual presenting symptoms.  Gonadotropin suppression leads to reduced testosterone, impotence, and oligospermia..  The diagnosis of idiopathic hyperprolactinemia is made by exclusion of known causes of hyperprolactinemia in the setting of a normal pituitary MRI.  Some of these patients may harbor small microadenomas below MRI sensitivity (~2 mm).
  • 26.  Investigations -.  Pregnancy should be excluded in all women of child-bearing potential.  The upper limit of serum prolactin is ∼500 mU/l (∼14 ng/ml).  In non-pregnant and non-lactating patients, monomeric prolactin concentrations of 500-1000 mU/l are likely to be induced by stress or drugs, and a repeat measurement is indicated.  Levels between 1000 and 5000 mU/l are likely to be due to either drugs, a microprolactinoma or 'disconnection' hyperprolactinaemia.  Levels above 5000 mU/l are highly suggestive of a macroprolactinoma, and the higher the level, the bigger the tumour.  Some macroprolactinomas cause levels over 100 000 mU/l.  Patients with prolactin excess should have tests of gonadal function and T4 and TSH measured to exclude primary hypothyroidism causing TRH-induced prolactin excess.  Unless the prolactin falls after withdrawal of relevant drug therapy, a serum prolactin of > 1000 mU/l is an indication for MRI or CT scan of the hypothalamus and pituitary.  Patients with a macroadenoma also need tests for hypopituitarism
  • 27. Management  Medical -Medical Dopamine agonist drugs are first-line therapy .  In patients with macroadenomas, drugs can only be withdrawn after curative surgery or radiotherapy and under close supervision.  DOPAMINE AGONIST THERAPY: DRUGS USED TO TREAT PROLACTINOMAS-  Bromocriptine 2.5-15 mg/day 8-12-hourly  Available for parenteral use Short half-life; useful in treating infertility Proven long-term efficacy Ergotamine-like side-effects (nausea, headache, postural hypotension, constipation)
  • 28.  Cabergoline 250-1000 μg/week 2 doses/week Long-acting Reported to have fewer ergotamine-like side-effects Limited data on safety in pregnancy Quinagolide 50-150 μg/day Once daily A non-ergot with few side-effects Untested in pregnancy  Surgical - Dopamine agonists not only lower prolactin levels, but shrink the majority of prolactin-secreting macroadenomas. Thus, surgical decompression is not usually necessary unless the macroadenoma is cystic. However, in patients who are intolerant of dopamine agonists, microadenomas can be removed selectively by trans-sphenoidal surgery with a cure rate of about 80%. The cure rate for surgery in macroadenomas is lower.  Radiotherapy- External irradiation may be required for some macroadenomas to prevent regrowth if dopamine agonists are stopped