Intrasellar neuronal hamartoma associated with pituitary adenoma. Case report.

46-year-old acromegalic women presenting high level of growth hormone (32 ng/ml) in the serum underwent surgery. The intrasellar tumor, 16 mm in diameter, has been removed. The biopsy material consisted of two types of closely adjacent and intermingled tissues, one of which was growth hormone positive acidophilic adenoma, the second component were haphazardly oriented ganglion cells of various size and shape, also multinuclear, with bundles of unmyelinated fibers. The cytoplasm and processes of ganglion cells were immunopositive for neurofilaments and for synaptophysin on cellular membranes and processes. There were none glial fibrillary acidic protein positive cellular elements. The authors discuss commonly used name of choristoma for this type of tumor and the problem of possible neurosecretory stimulation of pituitary adenoma by neuronal hamartoma.