Pituitary Tumors: An Update in the Pathogenetic Mechanisms, the Diagnostic Methods and the Therapeutic Approaches

Dear Colleagues,

The 5th Edition of the WHO Classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors has introduced several changes with respect to neoplasms arising in the pituitary gland.

On the one hand, the previously used term “Pituitary Adenomas (PAs)”, for the neoplasms arising in the anterior lobe, has been replaced by the newly developed term “Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors (PitNETs)”. In addition, the term “metastatic PitNET” has been favored as an alternative to “Pituitary Carcinoma”. Furthermore, in the current classification, a detailed histological subtyping is proposed according to the tumor cell lineage, cell type and other relevant characteristics. In this context, the use of immunohistochemistry, for the pituitary transcription factors (PIT1, TPIT, SF1, GATA3 and ERα), is recommended, in order to identify the major lineage-defined PitNET types and subtypes.

On the other hand, important changes have also included posterior lobe tumors. Thus, the terms spindle cell oncocytoma, granular cell tumor and sellar ependymoma have been replaced by the terms oncocytic pituicytoma, granular pituicytoma and ependymal pituicytoma, as the former are now considered variants of the classical pituicytoma.

Finally, tumors with a hypothalamic neuronal differentiation are recognized either as neurocytomas or gangliocytomas, showing the characteristic histological picture as elsewhere in the Central Nervous System (CNS).

The aforementioned significant changes and others that have been adopted in the new classification are the result of the continuous research in the field of pituitary tumors, which has allowed us to elucidate, at least to some extent, their pathogenesis. Undoubtedly, the acquired knowledge has influenced immensely the development of novel diagnostic approaches, used for their identification and more accurate characterization, which in turn has also contributed to the development of more precise treatment strategies.

It is the aim of this Special Issue to demonstrate the recent achievements in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of these neoplasms. Therefore, any contribution in the form of a research or review paper is encouraged and welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Kanakis
Guest Editor

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• pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs)
• pituitary transcription factors
• PIT1
• TPIT
• SF1
• GATA3
• ERα
• pituicytoma
• hypothalamic neurocytoma
• hypothalamic gangliocytoma