Table of Contents

Pituitary microadenoma



Pituitary microadenoma, its a pituitary neuroendocrine tumor less than 10 mm in diameter.


At the time of diagnosis, 90 % of prolactinomas in women are microadenomas, vs. 60 % for males probably due to gender-specific differences in symptoms resulting in an earlier presentation in females.

Pituitary microadenoma diagnosis

Pituitary microadenoma diagnosis.

Follow-up recommendations

No consensus exists regarding follow-up recommendations for suspected pituitary microadenoma in children. To address this knowledge gap, Borghammar et al. from Lund investigated the growth potential of pituitary solid and cystic lesions <10 mm in children and evaluated the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements.

Non-functioning pituitary microadenoma in children has small size variations, often below the spatial resolution of the scanners. They suggest lesions <4 mm only for clinical follow-up, lesions 4-6 mm for MRI after 2 years, and ≥7 mm MRI after 1 and 3 years, with clinical follow-up in between. If no progression, further MRI should only be performed after new clinical symptoms or hormonal disturbances. 1) 2)

1)
Borghammar C, Tamaddon A, Erfurth EM, Sundgren PC, Siesjö P, Elfving M, Nilsson M. Non-functioning pituitary microadenoma in children and adolescents: Is follow-up with diagnostic imaging necessary? Endocrine. 2022 Oct 17. doi: 10.1007/s12020-022-03212-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36251115.
2)
Borghammar C, Tamaddon A, Erfurth EM, Sundgren PC, Siesjö P, Elfving M, Nilsson M. Correction: Non-functioning pituitary microadenoma in children and adolescents: Is follow-up with diagnostic imaging necessary? Endocrine. 2023 Nov 14. doi: 10.1007/s12020-023-03541-1. Epub ahead of print. Erratum for: Endocrine. 2023 Jan;79(1):152-160. PMID: 37962816.