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. 2007 Sep;22 Suppl(Suppl):S61-5.
doi: 10.3346/jkms.2007.22.S.S61.

The characteristics of incidental pituitary microadenomas in 120 Korean forensic autopsy cases

Jang Hee Kim  1 , Jung Seok Seo, Bong Woo Lee, Sang Young Lee, Seok Hoon Jeon, Kyi Beom Lee
Affiliations

The characteristics of incidental pituitary microadenomas in 120 Korean forensic autopsy cases

Jang Hee Kim et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2007 Sep.

Abstract

To investigate the characteristics of incidental pituitary microadenomas, we examined 120 pituitary glands from Korean forensic autopsy cases, from which eight tumors were identified (incidence 6.7%). The average age of the affected subjects was 50 yr (range: 33-96 yr) with a female predominance. The maximum diameters of the tumors ranged from 0.4 to 5.4 mm (mean: 2.8 mm). Immunohistochemical analysis of pituitary hormones revealed three growth hormone-secreting adenomas, one prolactin-producing adenoma, one gonadotropin-producing adenoma, one plurihormonal adenoma, and two null cell adenomas. MIB-1 staining for Ki-67 antigen showed no positive expression. The microvessel density (MVD) of the pituitary microadenomas ranged from 2.3 to 11.6% (mean: 5.3%) and was significantly lower than that of nonneoplastic pituitary glands (11.9-20.1%, mean: 14.8%). Our study provides reference data on incidental pituitary microadenomas in the Korean population.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(A) Pituitary microadenoma (H&E stain, ×100). (B) Loss of the normal acinar and stromal patterns and compression of the adjacent pituitary parenchyma (reticulin stain, ×100). (C) Positive immunoreactivity with prolactin (×100).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Microvessel density measurement using an image analyzer with CD 34 immunostain (×200).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Microvessel density in microadenomas and non-neoplastic pituitary gland showing a significant difference.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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