Clinical and cytofunctional classification of pituitary adenomas: Proposal of a new classification

Summary Recent methodological advances in immunohistochemistry, ultrastructural techniques, hormonal assays, resolution imaging and molecular biology techniques have provided new insights into the pathology, function and cytogenesis of pituitary adenomas. Pituitary adenomas have been classified historically on the basis of tinctorial affinities, followed by the basis of ultrastructure and immunohistochemistry. The current development of technologies necessitate the new classification of pituitary adenomas which integrates these numerous parameters as well as the clinical manifestations. For this purpose, we suggest a new clinico-cytofunctional classification of pituitary adenomas, which is based on these clinical manifestations and integrates the information on biology, imaging function and ultrastructure. This classification which corresponds to current advances will not only provide pertinent clinical data but facilitate better understanding of the biology and nature of these complexed lesions.