Pituitary Corticotroph Adenoma Containing Many Apoptotic Cells: A Histologic, Immunohistochemical, Ultrastructural and Molecular Study

Apoptosis regulates cell turnover in normal tissues and occurs during the neoplastic process. Owing to difficulties in recognizing apoptotic cells by histology alone, several complementary approaches have been introduced, which disclosed the presence of cells with typical nuclear and cytoplasmic cha...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ultrastructural pathology 2002, Vol.26 (1), p.27-32
Main Authors: Messini, Irene, Kontogeorgos, George, Kovacs, Kalman, Horvath, Eva, Smyth, Harley S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adenoma
Adenoma - chemistry
Adenoma - metabolism
Adenoma - pathology
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - analysis
Adult
Apoptosis
Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis
Cushing Syndrome - complications
Cushing Syndrome - pathology
Cushing Syndrome - surgery
DNA, Neoplasm - analysis
Electron Microscopy
Female
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Keratin
Ki-67 Antigen - analysis
Pathology
Pituitary
Pituitary Neoplasms - chemistry
Pituitary Neoplasms - metabolism
Pituitary Neoplasms - pathology
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Apoptosis regulates cell turnover in normal tissues and occurs during the neoplastic process. Owing to difficulties in recognizing apoptotic cells by histology alone, several complementary approaches have been introduced, which disclosed the presence of cells with typical nuclear and cytoplasmic changes characteristic of apoptosis. Electron microscopy remains the most conclusive method to reveal the structural changes. Identification of caspase cleaved keratin 18 intermediate filament rearrangements can contribute to the identification of early apoptotic changes. The authors present here an unusual case of a pituitary corticotroph adenoma removed surgically from a young woman with Cushing disease. The tumor contained many apoptotic cells identified by histology. In addition, the apoptotic events were investigated using various morphologic techniques, including electron microscopy, the in situ end-labeling technique, and immunohistochemistry to confirm the caspase-cleaved keratin 18 rearrangements.
ISSN:0191-3123
1521-0758
DOI:10.1080/01913120252934305