We describe a15-year-old girl presenting with compensatory pituitary enlargement due to primary hypothyroidism. The hyperplasia regressed following thyroxine administration. The clinical, laboratory and MRI features of the patients are described and the mechanisms of pituitary gland enlargement are discussed.
KovacsKScheithauerBWHorvathG. The World Health Organization classification of adenohypophyseal neoplasms. Cancer, 1996; 78: 502–510.
2.
GrossmanA. Neuroendocrinology, Hypothalamus and Pituitary. 2009; Endotext.org.
3.
BigosSTRidgwayECKouridesIA. Spectrum of pituitary alterations with mild and severe thyroid impairment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab.1978; 46: 317–325.
4.
YamadaTTsukuiTIkejeriK. Volume of sella turcica in normal subjects and in patients with primary hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab.1976; 42: 817–822.
ShimonoTHatabuHKasagiK. Rapid progression of pituitary hyperplasia in humans with primary hypothyroidism: Demonstration with MR imaging. Radiology.1999; 213: 383–388.
GonzalezJGElizondoGSaldivarD: Pituitary gland growth during normal pregnancy: An in vivo study using magnetic resonance imaging. Am J Med.1988; 85: 217.
9.
SarlisNJDavisFBDoppmanJL. MRI-demonstrable regression of a pituitary mass in a case of primary hypothyroidism after a week of acute thyroid hormone therapy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab.1997; 82 (3): 808–811.
10.
BrandleMSchmidC. Galactorrhoea and pituitary mass: A typical prolactinoma?Postgrad Med J.2000; 76: 232–234.
11.
HonboKSvan-HerleAJKellettKA. Serum prolactin levels in untreated primary hypothyroidism. Am J Med.1978; 64: 782–787.
12.
MolitchME. Pathologic hyperprolactinemia. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am.1992; 21: 877–901.