Seminars in Neurosurgery 2001; 12(3): 273-288
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-33618
Copyright © 2002 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

The Classification of Pituitary Tumors: An Update

Sylvia L. Asa1,3,5 , Shereen Ezzat2,4,5
  • 1Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • 2Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • 3Department of Pathology, University Health Network University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • 4Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital
  • 5Freeman Centre for Endocrine Oncology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Publikationsdatum:
27. August 2002 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The classification of pituitary tumors includes the large group of common pituitary adenomas, the rare pituitary carcinoma, craniopharyngiomas, and various other primary and secondary neoplasms that arise in the region of the sella turcica. In addition, there is a group of tumorlike lesions that can mimic pituitary tumors, including cysts, inflammatory conditions, and hyperplasias. The understanding of pituitary adenoma cytodifferentiation has been greatly enhanced by the identification of transcription factors that regulate cell differentiation in this gland; these factors provide novel tools for tumor classification and diagnosis. The pathologist plays an important role in identifying the morphologic features of pituitary lesions to ensure appropriate classification and clinicopathological correlations that will determine patient management.

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