Pituitary-Hypothalamic Tumor Syndromes: Adults

Review
In: Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000.
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Excerpt

Space Occupying Lesions in the hypothalamic/pituitary region include tumours derived from endocrine or neural tissues, as well as a wide spectrum of more uncommon conditions such us inflammatory processes or metastases. The clinical expression of these lesions depends not only of their nature, but also on the size and position of the lesion, with some common patterns that can lead the clinician to the diagnosis, being some of them clinically silent. There is an increasing interest in the study of the molecular abnormalities in these uncommon conditions, and new drugs have started to be used as a result of the understanding of the pathways involved in the tumourigenesis. A literature search in Pubmed was performed, focused on articles referred to craniopharyngioma, non-functioning pituitary adenomas, pituitary carcinoma, hypophysitis, germ-cell tumours, chordoma, cysts and empty sella syndrome. Articles published from 2010 to 2015 in high impact factor journals were selected. Selected articles were mainly referred to new signaling pathways involved in tumourigenesis, somatic mutations, expressed receptors, new treatments and guidelines. Review articles were also used. This chapter reviews the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and treatments of the main hypothalamic/pituitary space occupying lesions. It also provides a general and practical approach for the evaluation of these patients.

Publication types

  • Review