Maimonides Institute of Biomedical Research of Cordoba, Córdoba, 14004, Spain.
Reina Sofia University Hospital (HURS), Córdoba, 14004, Spain.
Sci Rep. 2018 Apr 18;8(1):6173. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24260-y.
Acromegaly is a rare but severe disease, originated in 95% of cases by a growth hormone-secreting adenoma (somatotropinoma) in the pituitary. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive technique used for the diagnosis and prognosis of pituitary tumours. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of T2-weighted signal intensity at MRI could help to improve the characterisation of somatotropinomas, by analysing its relationship with clinical/molecular features. An observational study was implemented in a cohort of 22 patients (mean age = 42.1 ± 17.2 years; 59% women; 95% size>10 mm). Suprasellar-extended somatotropinomas presented larger diameters vs. non-extended tumours. T2-imaging revealed that 59% of tumours were hyperintense and 41% isointense adenomas, wherein hyperintense were more invasive (according to Knosp-score) than isointense adenomas. A higher proportion of hyperintense somatotropinomas presented extrasellar-growth, suprasellar-growth and invasion of the cavernous sinus compared to isointense adenomas. Interestingly, somatostatin receptor-3 and dopamine receptor-5 (DRD5) expression levels were associated with extrasellar and/or suprasellar extension. Additionally, DRD5 was also higher in hyperintense adenomas and its expression was directly correlated with Knosp-score and with tumour diameter. Hence, T2-weighted MRI on somatotropinomas represents a potential tool to refine their diagnosis and prognosis, and could support the election of preoperative treatment, when required.
肢端肥大症是一种罕见但严重的疾病,95%的病例源于垂体生长激素分泌腺瘤(生长激素瘤)。磁共振成像(MRI)是一种用于诊断和预测垂体肿瘤的非侵入性技术。本研究旨在通过分析其与临床/分子特征的关系,确定 MRI 上 T2 加权信号强度是否有助于改善生长激素瘤的特征。本研究实施了一项观察性研究,纳入了 22 名患者(平均年龄为 42.1±17.2 岁;59%为女性;95%的肿瘤直径>10mm)。鞍上扩展的生长激素瘤与非扩展肿瘤相比,直径更大。T2 成像显示,59%的肿瘤呈高信号,41%呈等信号腺瘤,高信号腺瘤的侵袭性(根据 Knosp 评分)高于等信号腺瘤。与等信号腺瘤相比,更多的高信号生长激素瘤存在颅外生长、鞍上生长和海绵窦侵袭。有趣的是,生长抑素受体 3 和多巴胺受体 5(DRD5)的表达水平与颅外和/或鞍上延伸有关。此外,高信号腺瘤中 DRD5 的表达也更高,其表达与 Knosp 评分和肿瘤直径直接相关。因此,生长激素瘤的 T2 加权 MRI 可能是一种潜在的工具,可以完善其诊断和预后,并在需要时支持术前治疗的选择。