The Anterior Pituitary in Hemochromatosis.
Pituitary changes in the case of a 69-year-old man with hemochromatosis are reported. The patient died of complications of hepatocellular carcinoma. The pituitary removed at autopsy was studied by histology, histochemistry, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Preferential localization of iron deposits was demonstrated within gonadotrophs, which, at the ultrastructural level, displayed selective, severe cellular injury. X-ray diffraction revealed the deposition of iron-accumulated lysosomes. Iron storage also was noted in stellate cells. We consider selective injury of pituitary gonadotrophs to be the basis of hypogonadism in iron-overloaded states.
Kontogeorgos
George
G
MB, BS.
Handy
Shaheda
S
Kovacs
Kalman
K
Horvath
Eva
E
Scheithauer
Bernd W.
BW