Signalment:  

17-month-old, male, PLB-23 rat (Rattus norvegicus) The rat is part of a research colony maintained at our research institution and was singly housed in standard rat caging. A husbandry technician noted this rat to be hunched, scruffy, lethargic and dehydrated. A large volume of blood was found in the cage with no evidence of a laceration or open woundno obvious visible source of blood could be found grossly. The rat was dyspneic, experiencing agonal breaths and was humanely euthanized.


Gross Description:  

There is a large mass in the area of the pituitary gland. A large blood clot is found to fill the entire nasal cavity.


Histopathologic Description:

There is a large multinodular mass (~2 cm wide) that extends from the base of the brain in the area of the pars distalis posteriorly into the cerebellum, dorsally into the overlying cerebrum and cerebellum. In addition, there is a spatially distinct section of tumor present unilaterally in the lateral ventricle in the area of the hippocampus. The neoplastic cells are arranged in solid sheets to compact cords with a fine fibrovascular stroma. There are numerous small to large cystic spaces filled with eosinophilic proteinaceous material admixed with erythrocytes. The neoplastic cells are irregularly round and contain a single predominantly vesiculate nucleus with a single prominent nucleolus and an amphophilic to slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm (Figure 1). Nuclear pleomorphism is high. Occasionally larger bizarre forms are observed. The third and lateral ventricles are distended and contain fibrin, edema and hemorrhage. The neoplastic cells are periodic acid-Schiff negative (Figure 2). 

The nasal pharynx and nasal cavity are full of blood admixed with fibrin. At the level of the eyes, nasal cavity and upper molars, there is a unilateral focal area where one molar and the adjacent tissue are altered. There is a single large hair (whisker) and other cross sections of hair. The large hair extends from within the oral cavity along the medial aspect of one molar sulcus and is embedded into the overlying soft tissues of the palate. Surrounding the larger piece of hair there is a thin layer of stratified squamous epithelium and beyond this there is abundant fibrous connective tissue admixed with neutrophils, macrophages, and scattered lymphocytes and plasma cells. At the margin of the oral cavity there are greater numbers of neutrophils. There are similar inflammatory cells surrounding the smaller sections of hair. There is marked loss of bone in the subjacent maxilla. The adjacent molar occlusal surface shape is altered with the lingual aspect longer and curved toward the buccal side. There is loss of the roots and intervening bone with no visible pulp cavity. There is an inflammatory infiltrate comprised predominantly of neutrophils at the base of the root. In the ipsilateral buccal mucous tunic to the affected molar, the oral mucosa is absent and the underlying lamina propria is acutely necrotic with a large amount of fibrin and hemorrhage admixed with blood.

While the pituitary mass was considerable in size, it appears to have been an incidental finding in this animal, as the cause of impending death was respiratory failure resulting from the large blood clot within the nasal cavity. This can occur in rats because the anatomy of the oronasal cavity of rats is unique rendering them obligate nose-breathers. In rats, the soft palate is long, and the anterior opening of the esophagus, the epiglottis, and the larynx lies anterior to the nasopharyngeal opening. Therefore, an obstruction in this area would prevent a rat from being able to breathe.


Morphologic Diagnosis:  

Pituitary Par Distalis: Carcinoma, chromophobic


Lab Results:  

Microcytic, normochromic anemia, hyperglycemia, elevated liver enzymes, hyperphosphatemia and hyperkalemia. The decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration are secondary to blood loss. The elevation in liver enzymes AlkP, ALT, and AST may be secondary to hypoxia or the elevated blood glucose (diabetes mellitus). The increased potassium and phosphorus are unexplained and may be due to decreased renal clearance, dehydration/shock, or tissue trauma. In addition, the blood sample was slightly hemolyzed, which may account for the elevated potassium, phosphorous and elevated liver enzymes. See detailed bloodwork results in Table 4-1.

Table 4-1. Complete Blood Count and Serum Biochemistry Panel Results
Complete Blood CountResultsReference Range (Units)Serum Biochemistry PanelResultsReference Range (Units)
Hemoglobin10.4 L11.4-19.2 g/dLGlucose 465 H 60-125 mg/dL
Hematocrit 28.0 L 33-50 % Urea Nitrogen 22 9-30 mg/dL
WBC 6.8 5.5-11 x103/uL Creatinine 0.5 0.4-1.0 mg/dL
RBC 5.53 5.5-10.5 x106/uL Total protein 6.4 4.5-6.5 g/dL
MCV 51 Fl Albumin 3.2 2.0-6.2 g/dL
MCH 18.8 Pg Total bilirubin 0.1 0-1 mg/dL
MCHC 37.1 g/dL Alkaline Phosphatase91 H 15-45 U/L
Platelet Count 634 x103/uL ALT 69 H 10-35 U/L
Platelet Estimate Increased AST 177 H 10-45 U/L
Differential Units Cholesterol 122 50-250 mg/dL
Neutrophils 4148 61% Calcium 12.0 8-12 mg/dL
Bands 0 Phosphorous 10.8 H 4.2-8.5 mg/dL
Lymphocytes 2448 36% Sodium 142 140-160 mEq/L
Monocytes 136 2% Potassium 7.1 H 4.3-5.8 mEq/L
Eosinophils 68 1% Chloride 93 90-110 mEq/L
Basophils 68 1% Albumin/ Globulin Ratio1.0 0.4-1.1
Polychromasia Slight BUN/Creat Ratio 44
Prothrombin Time 13.1 Secs Globulin 3.2 2.5-4.8
PTT 14.3 Secs CPK 241 U/L
Fibrinogen 262 Mg/dL
D-Dimer < 250 Ng/mL


Condition:  

Adenoma of the pars distalis


Contributor Comment:  

Pituitary tumors occur in most animal species, but occur rather frequently in laboratory rats and dogs. The classification of pituitary tumors as chromophobic, acidophilic and basophilic is based on the histologic staining characteristics of the granules they contain.(3) This traditional classification scheme is still in use, but does not categorize the functionality of the tumor and is therefore moving out of favor. Immunohistochemical demonstration of the various types of pituitary hormones contained within the tumor is another method of classification of these neoplasms and may also aid in diagnosis and prognosis.(5) The following table, extracted from Jones, et. al., demonstrates the hormones secreted and typical staining patterns of the cells of the anterior pituitary.

Table 2. Endocrine cells and hormones of the anterior pituitary (3)
Cell type Hormone Cell characteristics
Somatotroph
(type 2 acidophil)
Growth Hormone H&E: acidophilic granules
PAS: negative
EM: abundant, dense granules 350nm
Lactotroph
(type 1 acidophil)
Prolactin H&E: acidophilic or chromophobic granules
PAS: negative
EM: sparse, dense granules 600-900nm
Gonadotroph
(type 2 basophil)
Follicle-stimulating Hormone
Leutinizing Hormone
H&E: basophilic
PAS: positive
EM: dense granules 200-250nm
Thyrotroph
(type 1 basophil)
Thyroid-stimulating HormoneH&E: basophilic
PAS: positive
EM: dense granules 150nm
Corticotroph
(type 3 basophil)
Adrenocorticotropic HormoneH&E: basophilic
PAS: weakly positive
EM: variably dense granules 200-400nm
Cytoplasmic filaments
Melanotroph Melanocyte-stimulating
Hormone
H&E: basophilic
PAS: positive


Most pituitary tumors are adenomas and grow by expansion thereby creating a space-occupying lesion potentially interfering with the normal function of the cells within the pituitary, hypothalamus, thalamus and other surrounding structures. The clinical signs associated with the lesion are often linked to which types of hormones are secreted. Although they occur infrequently, metastatic pituitary neoplasms have been reported in a variety of species. These lesions can produce destructive effects on the pituitary, hypothalamus and thalamus leading to a multitude of clinical signs.(3)

Even though pituitary carcinomas occur with much less frequency than pituitary adenomas in most rats, in this case the tumor invasion into the overlying brain suggests that this tumor is a carcinoma. In addition, the fact that the tumor cells had high pleomorphism with bizarre forms suggests carcinoma. 

In a study by McComb, et al (1984), it was found that in rats over 24 months of age, pituitary adenomas were found in 85% of male and 79% of female SD rats. Of these tumors, 47% were prolactin (PRL)-containing and 16% were leutinizing hormone (LH)-containing adenomas. The remaining 37% were made up of tumors containing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), growth hormone (GH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or some combination thereof, as well as immunonegative adenomas.(5) In another study done by Nagatani, et al (1987), 736 rats of various inbred strains ranging from 13 to 24 months of age were screened for pituitary tumors. Pituitary tumors were found in 284 of the 736 rats, with some rats having more than one lesion.(3) In addition to spontaneously occurring pituitary tumors, chronic estrogen treatment can induce prolactin-secreting tumor growth in the anterior pituitary of Fischer 344 rats.(8)

In dogs, ACTH-secreting tumors are the most common of the functional pituitary tumors. While these tumors can arise from the pars intermedia or the pars distalis, most commonly they are chromophobic adenomas composed of either large or small cells arising from the pars distalis. ACTH-secreting tumors frequently result in the development of adrenocortical hyperplasia and hyperfunction and cause pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease.(3) While cats are not considered a species that commonly develops pituitary tumors, one study found that 16 out of 16 diabetic cats with insulin resistance also had pituitary adenomas manifesting as acromegaly or hyperadrenocorticism.(2)

The most frequently occurring pituitary neoplasm in horses is the adenoma of the pars intermedia leading to a variety of clinical signs including hirsutism, polyphagia, muscle wasting, hyperglycemia, and diabetes insipidus, among others.(1)

In humans, pituitary neoplasms represent approximately 10% of the intracranial tumors, the most common of which are prolactin secreting pituitary adenomas.(3,5,4) Spontaneous pituitary adenomas have also been described in parakeets and mice.(5)


JPC Diagnosis:  

Pituitary gland, pars distalis: Adenoma


Conference Comment:  

Conference participants debated the differentials of adenoma and carcinoma in this case. Conference participants did not observe invasion of the overlying brain in their tissue sections. Therefore we prefer the diagnosis of adenoma based on the lack of tissue or vascular invasion and the low mitotic rate. A moderate degree of anisocytosis and anisokaryosis does not preclude the diagnosis. The AFIP Department of Neuropathology concurred with this conclusion. The neoplasm is further classified as a lactotroph adenoma based on the results of immunohistochemical procedures performed at AFIP; the neoplasm is positive for prolactin and negative for ACTH, FSH, GH, LH, and TSH.


References:

1. Capen, CC: Endocrine glands. In: Jubb, Kennedy, and Palmers Pathology of Domestic Animals, 5th ed., pp. 339-346. Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2007.
2. Elliot DA, Feldman EC, Koblik PD, Samii VF, Nelson RW: Prevalence of pituitary tumors among diabetic cats with insulin resistance. JAVMA, 216 (11): p. 1765-1768, 2000
3. Jones TC, Hunt RD and King NW: Veterinary Pathology, 6th ed., Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, pp. 1224-1232, 1997
4. McComb DJ, Hellmann P, Kovacs K, Scott D, Evans WS, Burdman JA, and Thorner MO: Spontaneous sparsely-granulated prolactin-producing pituitary adenomas in aging rats: Neuroendocrinology, 41: 201-211, 1985
5. McComb DJ, Kovacs K, Beri J, and Zak F: Pituitary adenomas in old sprague-dawley rats: a histologic, ultrastructural, and immunocytochemical study. JNCI, 19(5): p 1143-1157, 1973
6. Nagatani M, Miura K, Tsuchitani M, Narama I: Relationship Between Cellular Morphology and Immunocytological Findings of Spontaneous Pituitary Tumours in the Aged Rat. J Comp Path, 97: 11-20, 1987
7. Percy DH, Barthold SW: Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits. 3rd ed., pp.108, 122, 173-174, 306. Blackwell Publishing, Ames, IA, 2007
8. Wendell DL, Platts A, Land S: Global Analysis of Gene Expression in the Estrogen Induced Pituitary Tumor of the F344 Rat. J Steroid Biochem & Mol Biology 101: 188-196, 2006


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4-1. Pituitary gland, rat.



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