title: The characteristics of incidental pituitary microadenomas in 120 Korean forensic autopsy cases.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jang Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Bong Woo
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seok Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Kyi Beom
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D010907:Pituitary Hormones