Demonstration of pituitary tissue with 6 cells immunoreactive to pituitary hormones in a sacrococcygeal teratoma.

A sacrococcygeal teratoma, containing mature-appearing anterior pituitary tissue, was first reported with the result of an immunohistochemical analysis for pituitary hormones. All kinds of adenohypophyseal endocrine cells were demonstrated in the anterior pituitary tissue in this teratoma. This study revealed that the anterior pituitary tissue being contained together with nerve tissues in a sacrococcygeal mature teratoma has the capacity to produce at least six anterior pituitary hormones.