Idiopathic prolactin cell hyperplasia of the pituitary mimicking prolactin cell adenoma: a morphological study including immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and in situ hybridization.

Prolactin cell adenoma is the most frequently found lesion in surgically removed pituitaries of patients with hyperprolactinemia. However, in several instances, instead of prolactin cell adenoma, other lesions are encountered by morphological investigation. We report here the morphological findings in a patient with hyperprolactinemia who underwent transsphenoidal pituitary surgery for suspected prolactin cell adenoma. A morphological diagnosis of tumor could not be confirmed and massive diffuse prolactin cell hyperplasia was identified. The aim of this publication is to describe the lesion by histology, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and in situ hybridization and to call attention to primary prolactin cell hyperplasia which can mimic prolactin cell adenoma.