Turner syndrome and pituitary adenomas: a case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND

Turner syndrome (TS) is the most common sex chromosome abnormality in females, typically associated with primary amenorrhea and premature ovarian failure due to gonadal dysgenesis. The association of TS with hypopituitarism is an uncommon finding. The objective of the study was to describe an adolescent with TS with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and subsequent hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

METHODS

A 16-year-old female with primary amenorrhea was diagnosed with TS based on karyotype 45,XO. Other laboratory values included FSH 45.52 IU/L, LH 17.4 IU/L, undetectable estradiol, and prolactin 1.08 nmol/L. Two months later and before treatment, she presented with severe headache and a new left cranial nerve VI palsy. Brain MRI showed a 2.7-cm hemorrhagic pituitary macroadenoma expanding the sella. Laboratory evaluation showed FSH 5.9 IU/L, LH 0.9 IU/L, prolactin 0.09 nmol/L, and GH 1.03 ng/mL. She underwent transphenoidal hypophysectomy, and pathology revealed pituitary adenoma with immunohistochemical staining positive for growth hormone and prolactin. She subsequently developed multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies. Review of the literature identified eight case reports of women with TS who developed pituitary adenomas.

CONCLUSIONS

This case illustrates an uncommon co-occurrence of TS and pituitary macroadenoma. Sequential gonadotropin measurements demonstrate the evolution of hypergonadotropic hypogonadism into hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to hemorrhagic pituitary macroadenoma.