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Welcoming the new WHO classification of pituitary tumors 2017: revolution in TTF-1-positive posterior pituitary tumors

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Abstract

The fourth edition of the World Health Organization classification of endocrine tumors (EN-WHO2017) was released in 2017. In this new edition, changes in the classification of non-neuroendocrine tumors are proposed particularly in tumors arising in the posterior pituitary. These tumors are a distinct group of low-grade neoplasms of the sellar region that express thyroid transcription factor-1, and include pituicytoma, granular cell tumor of the sellar region, spindle cell oncocytoma, and sellar ependymoma. This short review focuses on the classification of posterior pituitary tumors newly proposed in EN-WHO2017, and controversies in their pathological differential diagnosis are discussed based on recent cases.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks Dr. Hiroyoshi Akutsu, Department of Neurosurgery, Tsukuba University, for his valuable clinical data, and medical editors of the Department of International Medical Communications of Tokyo Medical University for editing the manuscript.

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  1. Central Clinical Laboratory, Hachioji Medical Center, Tokyo Medical University, 1163 Tatemachi, Hachioji City, Tokyo, 193-0998, Japan

    Makoto Shibuya

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Correspondence to Makoto Shibuya.

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Shibuya, M. Welcoming the new WHO classification of pituitary tumors 2017: revolution in TTF-1-positive posterior pituitary tumors. Brain Tumor Pathol 35, 62–70 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10014-018-0311-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10014-018-0311-6

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