Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pathology of Pituitary Adenomas

  • Chapter
Diagnosis and Management of Pituitary Disorders

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

  • 1821 Accesses

Summary

Pituitary adenomas are the most common tumors of the sella and are manifest by either symptoms of mass effect or symptoms of hormone overproduction or underproduction. The histological and functional classification of pituitary adenomas is reviewed in relation to their clinical presentation and potential therapies. The pathological classification of pituitary tumors is complex. The role of immunohistochemical markers is discussed, but their value remains controversial. The pathological characteristics of other sellar lesions that enter into the differential diagnosis of pituitary tumors are described.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Ezzat S, Asa SL, Couldwell WT, et al. The prevalence of pituitary adenomas: a systematic review. Cancer 2004;101:613–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. DeLellis. Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of Endocrine Organs, WHO Classification of Tumours. Lyon: IARC Press; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kovacs K, Horvath E. Tumors of Pituitary Gland. Washington DC: Armed Force Institute of Pathology; 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ciccarelli A, Daly AF, Beckers A. The epidemiology of prolactinomas. Pituitary 2005;8:3–6.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Holdaway IM, Rajasoorya C. Epidemiology of acromegaly. Pituitary 1999;2:29–41.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Pellegrini I, Barlier A, Gunz G, et al. Pit-1 gene expression in the human pituitary and pituitary adenomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994;79:189–96.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bertholon-Gregoire M, Trouillas J, Guigard MP, Loras B, Tourniaire J. Mono- and plurihormonal thyrotropic pituitary adenomas: pathological, hormonal and clinical studies in 12 patients. Eur J Endocrinol 1999;140:519–27.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Smallridge RC. Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary tumors. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 1987;16:765–92.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Pernicone PJ, Scheithauer BW, Sebo TJ, et al. Pituitary carcinoma: a clinicopathologic study of 15 cases. Cancer 1997;79:804–12.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Schreiber S, Saeger W, Ludecke DK. Proliferation markers in different types of clinically non-secreting pituitary adenomas. Pituitary 1999;1:213–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gejman R, Swearingen B, Hedley-Whyte ET. Role of Ki67 proliferation index and p53 expression in predicting progression of pituitary adenomas Brain Pathol 2006;16(s1):S110.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hsu DW, Hakim F, Biller BM, et al. Significance of proliferating cell nuclear antigen index in predicting pituitary adenoma recurrence. J Neurosurg 1993;78:753–61.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Yamada S, Aiba T, Sano T, et al. Growth hormone-producing pituitary adenomas: correlations between clinical characteristics and morphology. Neurosurgery 1993;33:20–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Prabhu VC, Brown HG. The pathogenesis of craniopharyngiomas. Childs Nerv Syst 2005;21:622–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Bunin GR, Surawicz TS, Witman PA, Preston-Martin S, Davis F, Bruner JM. The descriptive epidemiology of craniopharyngioma. J Neurosurg 1998;89:547–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Cossu-Rocca P, Jones TD, Roth LM, et al. Cytokeratin and CD30 expression in dysgerminoma. Hum Pathol 2006;37:1015–21.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Schaller B, Kirsch E, Tolnay M, Mindermann T. Symptomatic granular cell tumor of the pituitary gland: case report and review of the literature. Neurosurgery 1998;42:166–70.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kasashima S, Oda Y, Nozaki J, Shirasaki M, Nakanishi I. A case of atypical granular cell tumor of the neurohypophysis. Pathol Int 2000;50:568–73.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Simmons NE, Laws ER, Jr. Glioma occurrence after sellar irradiation: case report and review. Neurosurgery 1998;42:172–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Perry DI, McGinn GJ, Del Bigio MR. Mixed gangliocytoma – adenoma of the sella: case report. Can Assoc Radiol J 2002;53:303–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Castillo M, Mukherji SK. Intrasellar mixed gangliocytoma-adenoma. Am J Roentgenol 1997;169:1199–200.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kontogeorgos G, Mourouti G, Kyrodimou E, Liapi-Avgeri G, Parasi E. Ganglion cell containing pituitary adenomas: signs of neuronal differentiation in adenoma cells. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 2006;112:21–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Asa SL, Scheithauer BW, Bilbao JM, et al. A case for hypothalamic acromegaly: a clinicopathological study of six patients with hypothalamic gangliocytomas producing growth hormone-releasing factor. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1984;58:796–803.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Puchner MJ, Ludecke DK, Valdueza JM, et al. Cushing’s disease in a child caused by a corticotropin-releasing hormone-secreting intrasellar gangliocytoma associated with an adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma. Neurosurgery 1993;33:920–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Vajtai I, Sahli R, Kappeler A. Spindle cell oncocytoma of the adenohypophysis: Report of a case with a 16-year follow-up. Pathol Res Pract 2006;202:745–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Dahiya S, Sarkar C, Hedley-Whyte ET, et al. Spindle cell oncocytoma of the adenohypophysis: report of two cases. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 2005;110:97–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Kloub O, Perry A, Tu PH, Lipper M, Lopes MB. Spindle cell oncocytoma of the adenohypophysis: report of two recurrent cases. Am J Surg Pathol 2005;29:247–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Roncaroli F, Scheithauer BW, Cenacchi G, et al. “Spindle cell oncocytoma” of the adenohypophysis: a tumor of folliculostellate cells? Am J Surg Pathol 2002;26:1048–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Lopes MB, Lanzino G, Cloft HJ, Winston DC, Vance ML, Laws ER, Jr. Primary fibrosarcoma of the sella unrelated to previous radiation therapy. Mod Pathol 1998;11:579–84.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Arita K, Sugiyama K, Tominaga A, Yamasaki F. Intrasellar rhabdomyosarcoma: case report. Neurosurgery 2001;48:677–80.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Inenaga C, Morii K, Tamura T, Tanaka R, Takahashi H. Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the sellar region. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2003;145:593–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Komninos J, Vlassopoulou V, Protopapa D, et al. Tumors metastatic to the pituitary gland: case report and literature review. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004;89:574–80.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Sumida M, Migita K, Tominaga A, Iida K, Kurisu K. Concomitant pituitary adenoma and Rathke’s cleft cyst. Neuroradiology 2001;43:755–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Thodou E, Asa SL, Kontogeorgos G, Kovacs K, Horvath E, Ezzat S. Clinical case seminar: lymphocytic hypophysitis: clinicopathological findings. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1995;80:2302–11.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Roger Gejman MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Tessa Hedley-Whyte MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery Massachusetts, General Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Brooke Swearingen MD

  2. Neuroendocrine Unit Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Beverly M. K. Biller MD

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gejman, R., Hedley-Whyte, E.T. (2008). Pathology of Pituitary Adenomas. In: Swearingen, B., Biller, B.M. (eds) Diagnosis and Management of Pituitary Disorders. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-264-9_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-264-9_2

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-922-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-264-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation