Characteristic location and growth patterns of functioning pituitary adenomas: correlation with histological distribution of hormone-secreting cells in the pituitary gland.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the correlation between the magnetic resonance imaging findings of functional pituitary adenomas and histological distribution of hormone-secreting cells in pituitary gland.

METHODS

Forty-nine patients with pathologically confirmed functional micro and macro pituitary adenomas were retrospectively reviewed for its location and growth direction.

RESULTS

Micro-prolactin, micro-adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and micro-growth hormone (GH) producing adenomas showed specific location (P-value <.01). Macro-GH and macro-thyroid-stimulating hormone producing adenomas showed specific growth direction (P-value <.05), whereas macro-prolactin and macro-ACTH producing adenomas did not.

CONCLUSION

The functional pituitary microadenomas' location and macroadenomas' growth pattern correlate well with histological distribution of hormone-secreting cells in pituitary gland.