Pituitary adenoma neurons that extend from the hypothalamus to which it is connected via the pituitary stalk. The hormones vasopressin and oxytocin, produced by the neurons of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus, are stored in the posterior lobe and released from axon endings (dendrites) within the lobe. The pituitary gland's anterior lobe (adenohypophysis) is a true gland which produces and secretes six different hormones: thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), growth hormone (GH), and prolactin (PRL). Diagnosis of pituitary adenoma can be made, or at least suspected, by a constellation of related symptoms
Pituitary adenoma only, with no other associated symptoms that occur in Multiple endocrine neoplasia Type 1 or Carney complex. FIPA was first described in a limited cohort of families by group in Liège, Belgium ; later FIPA was fully characterized in a multicenter international study of 64 families. FIPA families are divided into those that are homogenous and have the same type of pituitary adenoma in all the affected family members (e.g. only acromegaly, only prolactinoma, etc) , while heterogeneous FIPA families can have different pituitary adenomas in affected family members. FIPA has two known genetic causes, mutations in the "aryl hydrocarbon