title: Characteristics of ganglion cells in pituitary gangliocytomas.
abstract: The occurrence of ganglion cells in the sella turcica, in association or not with a pituitary adenoma, has been rarely reported. Various names have been employed for this rare entity, gangliocytoma being frequently used and recommended by WHO classification. Expression of cytokeratin in these ganglion cells has been previously occasionally reported, a very intriguing observation raising questions on the possible nature and derivation of these cells. We describe the pathological findings in three cases of growth hormone-producing adenomas, all sparsely granulated, showing the presence of a ganglion cell population admixed with an adenomatous component. A review of the literature is also provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Novello
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuropathology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gessi
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Doglietto
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anile
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Libero
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lauriola
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D007633:Keratins
keywords: cytokeratins; gangliocytoma; ganglion cells; neuronal differentiation; pituitary adenoma