CLINICAL AND HORMONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AGGRESSIVE PITUITARY ADENOMAS

Abstract

The pituitary gland is a neuroendocrine organ located in the Turkish saddle
at the base of the brain, which is surrounded laterally by the cavernous sinuses, and
chiasm from above (1). The carotid arteries pass through the cavernous sinuses on
both sides, giving branches for blood supply to the pituitary gland (2). The
pituitary consists of the adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis. The
adenohypophysis originates from the oral ectoderm, hence its epithelial phenotype,
while the neurohypophysis develops from the neuroectoderm at an early stage of
embryogenesis (3). The pituitary gland, together with the hypothalamus, is crucial
for growth, development and reproduction and in maintaining vital homeostasis
through secreting hormones that regulate peripheral endocrine glands or through
direct action on target cells