Immunocytochemistry of pituitary tumors

Pituitary tumors from 376 patients were investigated, using immunocytochemical techniques at the light and electron microscopic level, and autoradiography combined with immunocytochemistry for localizing somatostatin (SRIH) receptors. Prolactinomas, growth hormone-secreting adenomas causing acromegaly, and hormonally inactive adenomas were most frequently observed (153, 86, and 90 tumors, respectively). Among the latter, we could distinguish "alpha-only adenomas," many of which were oncocytomas. At the light and electron microscopic levels, cells containing (and presumably producing) simultaneously both prolactin and growth hormone, and cells containing exclusively either prolactin or growth hormone, could be demonstrated. In addition, a highly variable number and distribution of SRIH receptors could be shown in tumors secreting prolactin, growth hormone, and in tumors not associated with symptoms caused by inappropriate hormone secretion. The systematic combination of clinical, radiological, and biological techniques has currently brought great progress in the behavior and therapeutic concepts of pituitary lesions, and promises new achievements in the near future.