title: Assessment of Environmental and Hereditary Influence on Development of Pituitary Tumors Using Dermatoglyphic Traits and Their Potential as Screening Markers.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess environmental and hereditary influence on development of pituitary tumors using dermatoglyphic traits. The study was performed on 126 patients of both genders with pituitary tumors (60 non-functional and 66 functional pituitary tumor patients) in comparison to the control group of 400 phenotypically healthy individuals. Statistical analysis of quantitative and qualitative traits of digito-palmar dermatoglyphics was performed, and hormonal status was determined according to the standard protocols. Although we did not find markers that could specifically distinguish functional from non-functional tumors, we have found markers predisposing to the development of tumors in general (a small number of ridges between triradius of both hands, a smaller number of ridges between the triradius of c-d rc R), those for endocrine dysfunction (increased number of arches and reduced number of whorls, difference of pattern distribution in the I3 and I4 interdigital space), and some that could potentially be attributed to patients suffering from pituitary tumors (small number of ridges for variables FRR 5, smaller number of ridges in the FRL 4 of both hands and difference of pattern distribution at thenar of I1 and I2 interdigital space). The usage of dermatoglyphic traits as markers of predisposition of pituitary tumor development could facilitate the earlier detection of patients in addition to standard methods, and possibly earlier treatment and higher survival rate. Finally, our results are consistent with the hypothesis about multifactorial nature of pituitary tumor etiology comprised of both gene instability and environmental factors.
authors.affiliation: County Hospital Cakovec, I.G. Kovacica 1E, 40000 Cakovec, Croatia. marina.gradiser@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gradiser
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. martina1000@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matovinovic Osvatic
authors.affiliation: County Hospital Cakovec, I.G. Kovacica 1E, 40000 Cakovec, Croatia. dario.dilber@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dilber
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University Josip JurajStrossmayer, Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia. ibcurcic@mefos.hr.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bilic-Curcic
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics
keywords: dermatoglyphic traits; early detection; functional pituitary tumors; multifactorial etiology; non-functional pituitary tumors