Anti‐angiogenesis and metastasis: a tumour and stromal cell alliance

Tumour progression requires the activation of a tumour and stromal cell‐driven angiogenic programme, and the targeting of this process demonstrates an impact on tumour growth and progression. The results of preclinical studies have demonstrated a proinvasive/metastatic effect of antiangiogenic treatments with recent evidence supporting a contribution of the stroma to tumour aggressiveness and the short‐term effects of antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Furthermore, hypoxia‐dependent and ‐independent factors are considered as driving forces for tumour cell escape by altering both the tumour cells themselves and the stroma. This tumour–stromal cell alliance should be taken into consideration for the development of innovative therapeutic options targeting both tumour components to improve clinical benefits for cancer patients.     

促甲状腺激素垂体瘤:具有多种临床及生物学特征的罕见垂体肿瘤

总结了国外报道的9例促甲状腺激素(TSH)垂体瘤的临床表现、诊断过程,以期为早期发现本病并给予正确的治疗提供依据.     

让垂体瘤的治疗更趋完善

垂体瘤患者术后进行垂体功能的评估可以及时地对垂体功能减退者进行合适的替代治疗.但我们当前的临床现实是能够接受恰当的术后评估的患者还不到50％.只有加强内分泌科与神经外科医师的技术互补协作以及三级医院医师和基层医院医师的密切联系,提供以患者为中心的治疗才能弥补当前垂体瘤治疗存在的缺陷.     

Metamorphosis of a Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenoma to Cushing's Disease

Silent pituitary adenomas occur in 25–40% of all clinically apparent pituitary tumours. However, the subsequent development of florid Cushing's disease in a patient with a previous non-functioning tumour is extremely rare. We describe a 47 year-old woman presenting initially with a large, invasive and recurrent, non-functioning pituitary tumour. Histopathologic study of the initial tissue did not stain for any hormones. Six years after the initial presentation, she manifested florid ACTH dependent Cushing's syndrome. A recurrent invasive pituitary macroadenoma necessitated a third transphenoidal surgery. The resected specimen, in this instance, revealed positive staining for ACTH, FSH, prolactin, and growth hormone on immunocytochemistry. An incomplete response to surgical, radiation and medical therapy necessitated a bilateral adrenalectomy to control the hypercortisolism, which resulted in remarkable clinical improvement. We also review five previous case reports from the revision literature of similar transformations from non-secreting pituitary adenomas to Cushing's disease. This subset of patients may represent yet another entity in the widening spectrum of Cushing's syndrome.     

垂体促甲状腺素瘤的临床特点与诊治分析

目的 分析TSH瘤的临床特点和诊治经验.方法 对2006年1月至2011年9月在本院确诊治疗的16例垂体TSH分泌瘤患者的临床表现、实验室检查以及辅助检查和手术治疗效果进行分析.结果 (1)男性9例,女性7例,年龄(51.63±13.23)岁.就诊原因为甲状腺毒症症状占87.5％(14/16),仅2例分别因视物障碍和体检发现甲状腺功能异常.16例患者均无突眼、杵状指、胫前黏液性水肿.(2)血清FT4和FT3水平均高于正常,血清TSH(4.37±2.77)μIU/ml,25％(4/16)的患者同时合并血清甲状腺球蛋白抗体和(或)甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体阳性,促甲状腺素受体抗体全部阴性.9例行TRH兴奋试验:3例有反应(TSH高峰较基线上升5.45～9.20μIU/ml),6例无反应(TSH高峰较基线上升-0.01～3.15μIU/ml).11例患者行生长抑素试验:TSH平均被抑制到基线的27.15％(5.19％～99.15％).有2例患者分别合并血清催乳素和胰岛素样生长因子Ⅰ升高.垂体MRI显示垂体占位15例,其中微腺瘤10例,垂体大腺瘤5例;1例患者垂体未见异常,但见鼻腔内占位.(3)11例患者行手术治疗:9例行经蝶垂体瘤手术,1例行经额垂体瘤手术,1例行内镜下鼻中隔肿瘤手术.术后病理均为垂体腺瘤(11/11).结论 TSH不被抑制的甲状腺毒症需警惕TSH瘤,联合多种动态功能试验更有助于本病的早期诊断;另外在定性诊断符合TSH瘤,垂体影像未见异常的病例还需警惕异位TSH瘤.     

Pituitary apoplexy presenting as aseptic meningitis without visual loss or ophthalmoplegia

Abstract Clinical and spinal fluid evidence of aseptic meningitis were the sole features at presentation in a patient with pituitary apoplexy. Visual impairment and bitemporal field defects developed later. Necrosis within a chromophobe adenoma was found at surgical decompression of the sella.