Pituitary histology in Cushing's disease.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed pituitary histology in patients with Cushing's disease.


METHODS
Systematic histological assessment of pituitary tissue removed at surgery.


METHODS
Thirty-six consecutive patients cured from Cushing's disease by transsphenoidal neurosurgery.


METHODS
Microscopical examination of all available tissue removed at operation.


RESULTS
After selective removal of tissue supposed to represent an adenoma in 25 patients this could be histologically verified in 18. In the 11 patients who had undergone a total hypophysectomy an adenoma could be demonstrated in three patients only, despite a systematic search of the entire pituitary gland. Only in 21 of the 36 cured patients (58%) could an adenoma be verified.


CONCLUSIONS
Combining the present results with previous reports there is strong reason to believe that in some patients with Cushing's disease no histological lesion in the pituitary is verifiable.
Kruse
A
A
Department of Neurosurgery, Rigshospitalet-University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Klinken
L
L
Holck
S
S
Lindholm
J
J
D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors