Abstract
Pituitary adenomas that hypersecrete functional follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and/or luteinizing hormone (LH) are extremely rare.
Although many nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas demonstrate positive immunoreactivity for FSH and LH, the overwhelming majority of these tumors are clinically silent, as discussed previously.
In women, functional gonadotroph adenomas may cause ovarian stimulation syndrome with enlarged ovaries, pelvic pain, galactorrhea, and/or menstrual abnormalities. Levels of circulating estradiol are typically elevated.
In men, excess levels of serum testosterone with testicular enlargement have been reported.
In boys, precocious puberty has been reported.
Functioning gonadotroph adenomas are often plurihormonal tumors, which may co-secrete TSH, prolactin, and/or GH.
Exacerbation of disease has been reported with administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists such as leuprolide.
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Zada, G., Lopes, M.B.S., Mukundan, S., Laws, E. (2016). Gonadotroph Adenomas. 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_16
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