APPLIED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FOR THE ADVANCED EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ Lactotroph (prolactinoma). Answer: Causes increased prolactin -
In females: Amenorrhea and infertility - In males: Infertility, ED,
gynecomastia
◉ Somatroph. Answer: Cause increased growth hormone -
Acromegaly, gigantism
◉ Corticotroph. Answer: Increased ACTH - Causing Cushing's
Syndrome
◉ Gonadotroph. Answer: Increased FSH and LH precocious puberty
- Rare tumors
◉ Thyrotroph. Answer: Usually non functioning
◉ Hyperpituitarism Diagnosis. Answer: History, physical exam with
vision testing, MRI, CT, hormone levels
,◉ Hyperpituitarism Treatment. Answer: Depends on underlying
etiology and affected hormone, tumor medications, surgery,
radiation, and chemotherapy
◉ Hypopituitarism. Answer: Insufficient production of pituitary
hormones - Rare condition
◉ Hypopituitarism Causes. Answer: Pituitary or hypothalamic
◉ Hypopituitarism Clinical Manifestations of Hormone Deficiency.
Answer: GH deficiency, FSH/LH deficiency, TSH deficiency, ACTH
deficiency, ADH deficiency
◉ Hypopituitarism - Pituitary Causes. Answer: Congenital defects -
Hypoplasia or genetic mutations
Pituitary surgery or radiation
Infections - Meningitis and TB
Pituitary tumors
Infiltrative Disorders - Hemochromatosis, abnormal infiltration of
lymphocytes
Pituitary Infarction - Sheehan Syndrome occurs due to post partum
hemorrhage (PPH)
, ◉ Hypopituitarism Hypothalamic Disorders/Causes. Answer:
Tumors that originate in the hypothalamus or metastasis
Infections - Meningitis or TB
Infiltrative Disorders - Sarcoidosis (abnormal inflammatory
condition), Histiocytosis (abnormal immune condition)
Traumatic brain injury
Radiation induced damage
◉ Hypopituitarism Clinical Manifestations. Answer: GH Deficiency,
FSH/LH Deficiency, ACTH Deficiency, TSH Deficiency, ADH
Deficiency
◉ Hypopituitarism Clinical Manifestations - GH Deficiency. Answer:
Delayed growth and development, undeveloped nasal bridge,
diminished hair growth, voice
◉ Hypopituitarism Clinical Manifestations - FSH/LH Deficiency.
Answer: Impaired reproductive system (infertility, hot flashes,
menstrual)
◉ Hypopituitarism Clinical Manifestations - ACTH Deficiency.
Answer: Adrenal insufficiency - Weakness, nausea, hypotension -
Can be life threatening
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ Lactotroph (prolactinoma). Answer: Causes increased prolactin -
In females: Amenorrhea and infertility - In males: Infertility, ED,
gynecomastia
◉ Somatroph. Answer: Cause increased growth hormone -
Acromegaly, gigantism
◉ Corticotroph. Answer: Increased ACTH - Causing Cushing's
Syndrome
◉ Gonadotroph. Answer: Increased FSH and LH precocious puberty
- Rare tumors
◉ Thyrotroph. Answer: Usually non functioning
◉ Hyperpituitarism Diagnosis. Answer: History, physical exam with
vision testing, MRI, CT, hormone levels
,◉ Hyperpituitarism Treatment. Answer: Depends on underlying
etiology and affected hormone, tumor medications, surgery,
radiation, and chemotherapy
◉ Hypopituitarism. Answer: Insufficient production of pituitary
hormones - Rare condition
◉ Hypopituitarism Causes. Answer: Pituitary or hypothalamic
◉ Hypopituitarism Clinical Manifestations of Hormone Deficiency.
Answer: GH deficiency, FSH/LH deficiency, TSH deficiency, ACTH
deficiency, ADH deficiency
◉ Hypopituitarism - Pituitary Causes. Answer: Congenital defects -
Hypoplasia or genetic mutations
Pituitary surgery or radiation
Infections - Meningitis and TB
Pituitary tumors
Infiltrative Disorders - Hemochromatosis, abnormal infiltration of
lymphocytes
Pituitary Infarction - Sheehan Syndrome occurs due to post partum
hemorrhage (PPH)
, ◉ Hypopituitarism Hypothalamic Disorders/Causes. Answer:
Tumors that originate in the hypothalamus or metastasis
Infections - Meningitis or TB
Infiltrative Disorders - Sarcoidosis (abnormal inflammatory
condition), Histiocytosis (abnormal immune condition)
Traumatic brain injury
Radiation induced damage
◉ Hypopituitarism Clinical Manifestations. Answer: GH Deficiency,
FSH/LH Deficiency, ACTH Deficiency, TSH Deficiency, ADH
Deficiency
◉ Hypopituitarism Clinical Manifestations - GH Deficiency. Answer:
Delayed growth and development, undeveloped nasal bridge,
diminished hair growth, voice
◉ Hypopituitarism Clinical Manifestations - FSH/LH Deficiency.
Answer: Impaired reproductive system (infertility, hot flashes,
menstrual)
◉ Hypopituitarism Clinical Manifestations - ACTH Deficiency.
Answer: Adrenal insufficiency - Weakness, nausea, hypotension -
Can be life threatening
