THE EFFECT OF PITUITARY GLAND TUMORS ON THE EYE

Abstract

Adenomas arc by far the most common tumors of the pituitary gland, and usually arise as a discrete nodule from the anterior part of the gland, i.e. adenohypophysis; they are soft and vary in color from grey-white to pink or red, depending on the degree of vascularity. Necrosis or spontaneous hemorrhage often leads to cystic areas.

For many years, pituitary adenomas were categorized as chromophobic, acidophil, or basophil adenomas on the basis of conventional staining methods. Currently, pituitary adenomas are categorized on the basis of combined immunohistochemical and light and electron microscopic techniques, serum concentrations of spcci lie anterior pituitary hormones to de nne the nature of the hormones produced, and clinical presentation. On the basis of these methods and the clinical presentation, these tumors may be found to be monohormonal producers of prolactin (prolactinomas), growth hormone (somatotropic adenomas), adrenocorticotropin (corficotropic adenoma), thyroid-stimulating, hormone (thyrotropic adenoma), or luteinizing with follicle­ stimulating hormones (gonadotropic adenomas). Other tumors may be found to be producers of more than one hormone (plurihormonal adenomas) and up to one third may be composed of endocrinologically inactive cells.