Skip to main content

Abstract

Gangliocytomas originating in the posterior pituitary are rare.

The majority of gangliocytomas of the neurohypophysis are actually a composite tumor with gangliocytic and pituitary adenomatous elements, forming so-called mixed gangliocytoma-pituitary adenomas.

The term “pituitary adenoma with adenohypophyseal neuronal choristoma” (PANCH) has also been used by some investigators, but it is discouraged by the current WHO classification.

Mixed gangliocytoma-pituitary adenomas are estimated to correspond to 0.5–1.25 % of all sellar region tumors.

Clinically, gangliocytomas present with hormonal oversecretion syndromes in 74 % of reported cases. These tumors are associated with neuroendocrine disorders, mainly acromegaly, although fewer cases with Cushing’s disease and hyperprolactinemia have been described.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Asa SL, Kovacs K, Tindall GT, Barrow DL, Horvath E, Vecsei P. Cushing’s disease associated with an intrasellar gangliocytoma producing corticotrophin-releasing factor. Ann Intern Med. 1984;101:789–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Horvath E, Kovacs K, Scheithauer BW, Lloyd RV, Smyth HS. Pituitary adenoma with neuronal choristoma (PANCH): composite lesion or lineage infidelity? Ultrastruct Pathol. 1994;18:565–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kontogeorgos G, Mourouti G, Kyrodimou E, Liapi-Avgeri G, Parasi E. Ganglion cell containing pituitary adenomas: signs of neuronal differentiation in adenoma cells. Acta Neuropathol. 2006;112:21–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kurosaki M, Saeger W, Ludecke DK. Intrasellar gangliocytomas associated with acromegaly. Brain Tumor Pathol. 2002;19:63–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Puchner MJ, Ludecke DK, Saeger W, Riedel M, Asa SL. Gangliocytomas of the sellar region--a review. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 1995;103:129–49.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Baysefer A, Gezen F, Kayali H, Erdogan E, Timurkaynak E, Celasun B. Intrasellar gangliocytoma resembling pituitary adenoma. Minim Invasive Neurosurg. 1997;40:107–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Geddes JF, Jansen GH, Robinson SF, Gomori E, Holton JL, Monson JP, et al. ‘Gangliocytomas’ of the pituitary: a heterogeneous group of lesions with differing histogenesis. Am J Surg Pathol. 2000;24:607–13.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Saeger W, Puchner MJ, Ludecke DK. Combined sellar gangliocytoma and pituitary adenoma in acromegaly or Cushing’s disease. A report of 3 cases. Virchows Arch. 1994;425:93–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Towfighi J, Salam MM, McLendon RE, Powers S, Page RB. Ganglion cell-containing tumors of the pituitary gland. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1996;120:369–77.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Saeger W, Ludecke DK, Buchfelder M, Fahlbusch R, Quabbe HJ, Petersenn S. Pathohistological classification of pituitary tumors: 10 years of experience with the German Pituitary Tumor Registry. Eur J Endocrinol. 2007;156:203–16.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Saeger W, Ludecke DK, Losa M. Combined neuronal and endocrine tumors of the sellar region. Pathologe. 1997;18:419–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Scheithauer BW, Silva AI, Parisi JE, Kovacs K, Horvath E. Ganglioglioma of the neurohypophysis. Endocr Pathol. 2008;19:112–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Fehn M, Lohmann F, Ludecke DK, Rudorff KH, Saeger W. Ganglioglioma of the neurohypophysis with secretion of vasopressin. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 1998;106:425–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mikami S, Kameyama K, Takahashi S, Yoshida K, Kawase T, Sano T, Mukai M. Combined gangliocytoma and prolactinoma of the pituitary gland. Endocr Pathol. 2008;19:117–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Jalali R, Deopujari CE, Bhutani R, Suhas U, Rajasekharan P, Kane SV, Gupta T. Suprasellar ganglioglioma with unusual diffuse involvement of the entire optico-chiasmal hypothalamic pathway. J Cancer Res Ther. 2008;4:140–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Asa SL, Scheithauer BW, Bilbao JM, Horvath E, Ryan N, Kovacs K, et al. A case for hypothalamic acromegaly: a clinicopathological study of six patients with hypothalamic gangliocytomas producing growth hormone-releasing factor. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1984;58:796–803.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Sy J, Ang LC. Cytomorphologic spectrum of mixed pituitary adenoma-gangliocytomas: a report of two cases. Acta Cytol. 2010;54:981–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. McCowen KC, Glickman JN, Black PM, Zervas NT, Lidov HG, Garber JR. Gangliocytoma masquerading as a prolactinoma. Case report. J Neurosurg. 1999;91:490–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Serri O, Berthelet F, Belair M, Vallette S, Asa SL. An unusual association of a sellar gangliocytoma with a prolactinoma. Pituitary. 2008;11:85–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Puchner MJ, Ludecke DK, Valdueza JM, Saeger W, Willig RP, Stalla GK, Odink RJ. Cushing’s disease in a child caused by a corticotropin-releasing hormone-secreting intrasellar gangliocytoma associated with an adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma. Neurosurgery. 1993;33:920–4; discussion 924–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Chen J, Hersmus N, Van Duppen V, Caesens P, Denef C, Vankelecom H. The adult pituitary contains a cell population displaying stem/progenitor cell and early embryonic characteristics. Endocrinology. 2005;146:3985–98.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Vidal S, Horvath E, Kovacs K, Lloyd RV, Smyth HS. Reversible transdifferentiation: interconversion of somatotrophs and lactotrophs in pituitary hyperplasia. Mod Pathol. 2001;14:20–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Fischer EG, Morris JH, Kettyle WM. Intrasellar gangliocytoma and syndromes of pituitary hypersecretion. Case report. J Neurosurg. 1983;59:1071–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Morikawa M, Tamaki N, Kokunai T, Imai Y. Intrasellar pituitary gangliocyto-adenoma presenting with acromegaly: case report. Neurosurgery. 1997;40:611–4; discussion 614–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Compton JJ, Long term outcomes for low-grade intracranial ganglioglioma: 30 year experience from the mayo. Clinic J Nevrojury. 2012(5) 825–30.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gabriel Zada MD, MS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Zada, G., Lopes, M.B.S., Mukundan, S., Laws, E. (2016). Gangliocytoma and Ganglioglioma. In: Zada, G., Lopes, M., Mukundan Jr., S., Laws Jr., E. (eds) Atlas of Sellar and Parasellar Lesions. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22855-6_42

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22855-6_42

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-22854-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-22855-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics