Pituitary blastoma is a distinctive anterior hypophyseal tumor of infants
Comment:
Pituitary blastoma presents in infants younger than 24 months, most frequently with Cushing syndrome and elevated adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and occasionally with ophthalmoplegia, signs of increased intracranial pressure, diabetes insipidus, and thyrotropin deficit. An often large solid or cystic/solid mass arises from the sella with extension into the hypothalamus and may encompass the optic chiasm and/or cavernous sinuses. Pathologically, the tumors exhibit arrested pituitary development and uncontrolled proliferation and are composed of Rathke epithelium, folliculostellate cells, small primitive cells, and secretory cells with ACTH or, less often, growth hormone immunoexpression.