Update in diagnostic pathology of pituitary tumors - clinical and pathological perspective

Pituitary tumors are common intracranial tumors in adults. Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs, formerly adenomas) represent a vast majority of pituitary lesions. These tumors can be classified according to the lineage of differentiation in tumor cells that corresponds to cellular subpopulations of normal pituitary. These cell lineages are determined by one or more transcription factors (Pit1. Tpit, SF1 and GATA3) that also regulate hormonal production in both normal pituitary cells and their neoplastic counterparts. This review article summarizes briefly current approach in histopathological diagnosis of PitNETs according to the latest WHO classification. Furthermore, rarer entities, including pituictyomas and craniopharyngiomas are discussed, as well as secondary tumors of sellar region. (author)