Thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenomas are exceedingly rare at the pediatric age and no cases of co-secretion with other pituitary hormones in these tumors have been described in this age range. We present a case of a monomorphous plurihormonal pituitary adenoma that co-secreted TSH and GH in a pediatric patient. A 13-year-old male presented with increasing height velocity (17.75 cm/year, 9.55SD), weight loss, and visual impairment. Initial biochemical evaluations revealed secondary hyperthyroidism. A giant pituitary tumor compressing the surrounding structures was detected by magnetic resonance, and a transsphenoidal surgery was initially performed. Pathological examinations revealed an atypical, monomorphous plurihormonal Pit-1 lineage tumor with mixed features of silent subtype 3 adenoma and acidophil stem cell adenoma. In the postoperative period, secondary hyperthyroidism recurred with high levels of both GH and IGF1. In addition, due to tumor re-growth, a multimodality treatment plan was undertaken including surgery, somatostatin analogs, and radiotherapy. We report the first pediatric case of a plurihormonal TSH- and GH-secreting pituitary adenoma, further expanding the clinical manifestations of pediatric pituitary tumors. Comprehensive pathological evaluation and close follow-up surveillance are crucial to the prompt delivery of the best therapeutic options in the context of this particularly aggressive pituitary tumor.
Oncocytomas are tumours predominantly or exclusively composed of oncocytes, cells with granular and eosinophilic cytoplasm filled with mitochondria. Although they can occur in every organ, they are rare in adrenal glands, and in paediatric patients they are even rarer, with only three case reports previously published. We present a preschool child developing Cushing's syndrome due to an adrenocortical oncocytoma, which was confirmed immunohistochemically with antibodies to the mitochondrial electron complex 2. A 5.8-year-old girl presented with clinical features of Cushing's syndrome. ACTH-independent hypercortisolism was confirmed biochemically and a left adrenal mass was detected by imaging and removed by laparotomy. Histopathological analysis revealed a tumour composed of more than 95 % of oncocytes, confirmed immunohistochemically with antibodies to subunits A and B of the mitochondrial enzyme succinate dehydrogenase. Using the Lin-Weiss-Bisceglia score system and the reticulin algorithm, this tumour was categorized as a benign adrenocortical oncocytoma. The patient currently has 64 months of follow-up, without any evidence of relapse of symptoms. To our knowledge, we herein present the youngest patient developing an adrenocortical oncocytoma and the first manifestation of Cushing's syndrome due to this rare neoplasm in paediatric patients. We also emphasize the clinical usefulness of immunohistochemistry to the mitochondrial enzyme succinate dehydrogenase to confirm the oxyphilic nature of adrenocortical oncocytomas.
Sympathetic paragangliomas are rare catecholamine-secreting tumors of extra-adrenal origin, and their diagnosis in children is even more infrequent. They usually manifest as hypertension, palpitations, headache, sweating, and pallor. Malignant paragangliomas are identified by the presence of metastasis. Hemorrhagic stroke in the pediatric population is a life-threatening condition with several etiologies. We report here the case of a 12-year-old boy with malignant sympathetic paraganglioma presenting with hemorrhagic stroke. Severe hypertension was found and the patient evolved into a coma. Brain computed tomography scan showed right thalamus hemorrhage with intraventricular extension. After clinical improvement, further investigation revealed elevated catecholamine and metanephrine levels, and 2 abdominal tumors were identified by computed tomography. Resection of both lesions was performed, and histologic findings were consistent with paraganglioma. Multiple metastatic involvement of bones and soft tissues appeared several years later. Genetic testing identified a mutation in succinate dehydrogenase subunit B gene, with paternal transmission.
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