Microadenomas of the Pituitary and Abnormal Sellar Tomograms in an Unselected Autopsy Series

Abstract

PROLACTIN-SECRETING microadenomas of the pituitary gland have been diagnosed on the basis of elevated serum prolactin concentrations and abnormal tomograms of the sella turcica.^{1 , 2} This diagnosis has been corroborated at the time of transsphenoidal hypophysectomy by removal of a microadenoma that stains for prolactin-secreting cells.^{3 , 4} The pathogenesis of these prolactinomas has not been defined.⁵ The reported incidence of pituitary adenomas at autopsy has varied from 2.7 to 23 per cent.^{6 7 8} Prolactin-cell hyperplasia with nodular or adenomatous changes has been reported in approximately 8 per cent of pituitaries examined at autopsy.⁹ To study the natural history of microadenomas and of prolactinomas, . . .