PREVALENCE OF LYMPHOCYTIC INFILTRATE IN 1400 PITUITARY-ADENOMAS

To evaluate the prevalence of lymphocytic infiltrate in a large series of pituitary adenomas, we retrospectively studied tumor tissues from 1400 patients. Based on immunocytochemical data, tumors were classifie d as PRL (n=411), multihormonal (n=310), immunonegative (n=275), ACTH (n=166), GH (n=137), alpha subunit (n=44), FSH and/or LH, (n=42), and TSH (n=15) adenomas. The lymphocytic infiltrate was diagnosed on histo logical examination and investigated by immunostaining with anti LCA ( human leucocyte common antigen), anti CD45RO (human T cell) and anti C D20 (human B cell) antibodies. Lymphocytic infiltrate was present in 4 0 adenomas (2.9%), 26 females and 14 males, aged 18 to 77 years (mean +/- SD, 37 +/- 14 years). The tumors were 19 PRL, 8 multihormonal, 4 G H, 4 alpha subunit, 3 ACTH, and 2 immunonegative adenomas. In PRL aden omas, the sex ratio (female/male) and the age were similar in patients with and without lymphocytic infiltrate (2.8 vs. 4.6 and 29 +/- 6 yea rs vs. 32 +/- 11 years, respectively). The frequency of lymphocytic in filtrate was similar in PRL, GH, ACTH and multihormonal adenomas, but lymphocytic infiltrate was significantly more frequent in PRL adenoma than in immunonegative adenoma, and in alpha subunit adenoma than in i mmunonegative, ACTH and multihormonal adenomas. The lymphocytic cells were almost exclusively T cells. We conclude that lymphocytic infiltra tes are rare in pituitary adenomas. Their frequency is not statistical ly different in major categories of secreting adenomas (PRL, GH, ACTH, multihormonal). Their pathophysiological significance remains to be e stablished.