Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 86. (Budapest 1994)

Józsa, L. ; Pap, I.: Hypophyseal tumour on a male skull from the 11-13th centuries period, Hungary

Unfortunately no postcranial bones were available for analysis, and therefore the patterns indicating acromegaly (gigantism) could not be established. DISCUSSION Endocrine disease entities were diagnosed only with exceptional rarity. The diagnosis of tumours of the endocrine glands is very rare even in mummies in spite of the fact that soft tissues are available there. This kind of disease can be diagnosed on skeletalized material only when the bones themselves are affected with tumour. Hypophysis occupies 60-70% of sella (KARLINGER 1990). The pituitary "enclosed" in sella and surrounded by bulky dural lamella is very sensitive to cranial cavity hypertension (JÓZSA et al. 1974). When a slowly developing tumour occurs in the pituitary gland then not only the hormone-producing cells of it are harmed but the sella also becomes enlarged, its bony wall gives in to the pressure of the growing tumour. Hypophyseal tumours especially those that do not produce hormone can remain symptom-free for years on end, or they inflict nothing more but bilateral headache with varying intensity (JUHÁSZ 1969). The size of the sella turcica changes almost imperceptibly during this long period. Our case bore the radiological symptoms of hyperostosis cranii interna besides its hypophyseal tumour. Hyperostosis cranii interna afflicts mainly women over 40. The autopsy records of the National Institute of Traumatology indicated the presence of this disease in 2.8% of women over 40, and in 0.1% of men. Morgagni-Stewart-Morell disease is a result of hypophyseal disfunction. However, this malfunction has no tumorous character in the majority of cases. Several cases of Morgagni-Stewart-Morell disease were published (DERUMS 1970, HAHN & CHARNETZI 1980, GLADYKOWSKA-RZECZEYCKA 1987), but none of them was associated with hypophyseal tumour. Fig. 8. Sella turcica of the mature age male from Csíkvár