Could craniopharyngiomas produce pituitary hormones?

The authors have studied the endocrinological characteristics of 13 craniopharyngioma biopsy specimens in paraffin embedded histological sections with immunohistochemical methods for pituitary hormones (GH, PRL, ACTH, TSH, FSH and LH). Scattered cell groups with mild to moderate positivity for at least one hormone were found in all but one case. This finding supplies further evidence to the hypothesis which suggests the Rathke's pouch origin of craniopharyngiomas. Beside the hypothalamic-hypophyseal lesion it might explain the endocrinological disturbances accompanying the patients suffering from these tumours.