Pituitary carcinoma: reclassification and implications in the NET schema
The entity known as pituitary carcinoma has been traditionally defined as a tumor of adenohypophysial cells that metastasizes systemically or craniospinally independent of the histological appearance of the lesion. Reported cases of pituitary carcinoma have clinically and histologically resembled th...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Bioscientifica
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Endocrine Oncology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eo.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/eo/2/1/EO-22-0041.xml |
| _version_ | 1828067002865942528 |
|---|---|
| author | Sylvia L Asa Shereen Ezzat |
| author_facet | Sylvia L Asa Shereen Ezzat |
| author_sort | Sylvia L Asa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The entity known as pituitary carcinoma has been traditionally defined as a tumor of adenohypophysial cells that metastasizes systemically or craniospinally independent of the histological appearance of the lesion. Reported cases of pituitary carcinoma have clinically and histologically resembled their non-metastatic counterparts that were classified as adenomas; the majority of cases were initially diagnosed as adenomas, and with tumor progression and spread, the diagnosis was changed to carcinoma. This classification has been challenged since the definition of malignancy in most organs is not based only on metastatic spread. The extent of local invasion resulting in an inability to completely resect an adenohypophysial tumor can have serious consequences that can cause harm and are therefore not benign. To address this dilemma, it was proposed that pituitary tumors be classified as neuroendocrine tumors. This change in nomenclature is totally appropriate since these tumors are composed of classical neuroendocrine cells; as with other neuroendocrine tumors, they have variable behavior that can be indolent but can involve metastasis. With the new nomenclature, there is no requirement for a distinction between adenomas and carcinomas. Moreover, the WHO/IARC has provided an overarching classification for neuroendocrine neoplasms at all body sites; in this new classification, the term ‘neuroendocrine carcinoma’ is reserved for poorly differentiated high-grade malignancies that are clinically, morphologically and genetically distinct from well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors. It remains to be determined if there are true pituitary neuroendocrine carcinomas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:39:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c704222f3fb54f3c8c41018e299d39b9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2634-4793 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:39:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Bioscientifica |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Endocrine Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c704222f3fb54f3c8c41018e299d39b92023-01-11T12:10:37ZengBioscientificaEndocrine Oncology2634-47932023-01-0121R14R23https://doi.org/10.1530/EO-22-0041Pituitary carcinoma: reclassification and implications in the NET schemaSylvia L Asa0Shereen Ezzat1Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USADepartment of Medicine, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaThe entity known as pituitary carcinoma has been traditionally defined as a tumor of adenohypophysial cells that metastasizes systemically or craniospinally independent of the histological appearance of the lesion. Reported cases of pituitary carcinoma have clinically and histologically resembled their non-metastatic counterparts that were classified as adenomas; the majority of cases were initially diagnosed as adenomas, and with tumor progression and spread, the diagnosis was changed to carcinoma. This classification has been challenged since the definition of malignancy in most organs is not based only on metastatic spread. The extent of local invasion resulting in an inability to completely resect an adenohypophysial tumor can have serious consequences that can cause harm and are therefore not benign. To address this dilemma, it was proposed that pituitary tumors be classified as neuroendocrine tumors. This change in nomenclature is totally appropriate since these tumors are composed of classical neuroendocrine cells; as with other neuroendocrine tumors, they have variable behavior that can be indolent but can involve metastasis. With the new nomenclature, there is no requirement for a distinction between adenomas and carcinomas. Moreover, the WHO/IARC has provided an overarching classification for neuroendocrine neoplasms at all body sites; in this new classification, the term ‘neuroendocrine carcinoma’ is reserved for poorly differentiated high-grade malignancies that are clinically, morphologically and genetically distinct from well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors. It remains to be determined if there are true pituitary neuroendocrine carcinomas.https://eo.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/eo/2/1/EO-22-0041.xmlpituitaryadenomaneuroendocrine tumorcarcinomainvasionmetastasis |
| spellingShingle | Sylvia L Asa Shereen Ezzat Pituitary carcinoma: reclassification and implications in the NET schema Endocrine Oncology pituitary adenoma neuroendocrine tumor carcinoma invasion metastasis |
| title | Pituitary carcinoma: reclassification and implications in the NET schema |
| title_full | Pituitary carcinoma: reclassification and implications in the NET schema |
| title_fullStr | Pituitary carcinoma: reclassification and implications in the NET schema |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pituitary carcinoma: reclassification and implications in the NET schema |
| title_short | Pituitary carcinoma: reclassification and implications in the NET schema |
| title_sort | pituitary carcinoma reclassification and implications in the net schema |
| topic | pituitary adenoma neuroendocrine tumor carcinoma invasion metastasis |
| url | https://eo.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/eo/2/1/EO-22-0041.xml |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sylvialasa pituitarycarcinomareclassificationandimplicationsinthenetschema AT shereenezzat pituitarycarcinomareclassificationandimplicationsinthenetschema |