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Pituitary adenoma…nomen omen?

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Abstract

Background

In 2017, the International Pituitary Pathology Club proposed to rename pituitary adenoma as pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) but since no consensus on this new terminology was obtained the Pituitary Society decided to host on this topic an international multidisciplinary virtual workshop, Pituitary Neoplasm Nomenclature (PANOMEN), to which several Societies participated with the designation of their representatives in the expert panel. Main conclusion of the meeting was that there was not yet a case for adopting the PitNET nomenclature and main recommendation was that the term adenoma is retained.

Aim

Aim of this Editorial is to comment the outcome of the recently published document of the meeting.

Conclusions

Ideally, only the combination of pathological, neuroradiological, and clinical data can define the degree of agressiveness/invasion of a pituitary adenoma and effectively guide treament. This may be classically obtained only with a close multisciplinary collaboration into a PTCOE. It is proposed that improved definition of “invasive” and “aggressive” neoplasms may represent the most clinically effective development in the clinico-neuroradiological-pathological denomination and classification of pituitary adenomas.

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  1. Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Sciences, San Raffaele, Vita-Salute University and IRCCS Hospital, Milano, Italy

    Andrea Giustina

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Giustina, A. Pituitary adenoma…nomen omen?. Endocrine 74, 1–4 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-021-02785-z

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