Intrasellar small TSH secreting pituitary adenomas, 2 case reports

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenoma accounts for 1 % of pituitary adenoma and often manifests as invasive macroadenoma. If the TSH value is not high enough to cause clinical symptoms presenting as inappropriate secretion of TSH, the tumor may be missed or misdiagnosed as Graves disease. Some of these patients receive inadequate treatment with the antithyroid agent, radioiodine treatment, and thyroidectomy. This tumor is also known as a tough and firm tumor because of the significant interstitial fibrosis. We report two cases of TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas which were comparatively small. Although a tough and difficult operation was expected, actual tumor dissection was easy and gross total removal was achieved within less than 3 hours. We discuss the relationship between the intraoperative findings and histopathology, as well as the ultrastructure and endocrinology.