UPDATE ON THE CLINICOPATHOLOGY OF PITUITARY ADENOMAS.

OBJECTIVE: Pituitary adenomas are the third most common central nervous system tumors and arise from the anterior pituitary within the pituitary fossa.

METHODS: Literature review and discussion.

RESULTS: The signs and symptoms of patients with pituitary adenomas vary from 'mass effects' caused by a large adenoma to features secondary to excess pituitary hormones produced by the functioning pituitary adenoma. Detailed histopathologic assessment, based on novel classifications and the latest World Health Organization guidelines, helps to categorize pituitary adenomas into different subtypes and identify features that, in some cases, help to predict their behavior. Most of the pituitary tumors occur sporadically without known genetic predisposition, but in a significant minority of cases, somatic mutations can be identified in the GNAS and USP8 genes. A small proportion of the cases have germline genetic defects or embryonic mutations leading to mosaicism. Genes with germ-line mutations predisposing to pituitary adenomas include AIP, GPR101, MEN1, CDKN1B, PRKAR1A, PRKAR2A, DICER1, NF1, and SDHx, whereas more recently, CABLES1 has also been implicated.

CONCLUSION: Understanding the pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas will allow clinicians to correlate the pathologic and genetic features with clinical data, helping decisions on the best management of these tumors.

ABBREVIATIONS: ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone; AIP = aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein; αSU = alpha-subunit; EGFR = epithelial growth factor receptor; ER = estrogen receptor; FSH = follicle-stimulating hormone; GH = growth hormone; GHRH = growth hormone-releasing hormone; IGF-1 = insulin-like growth factor 1; LH = luteinizing hormone; MEN1 = multiple endocrine neoplasia 1; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; NFPA = nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma; PRL = prolactin; TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone; USP8 = ubiquitin-specific peptidase 8; WHO = World Health Organization.