Clinicopathological classification and incidence of pituitary adenomas (modified from Asa, 19981)
| Functioning adenomas | Non-functioning adenomas |
|---|---|
| ACTH, adrenocorticotrophin; FSH, follicle stimulating hormone; GH, growth hormone; LH, luteinising hormone; PRL, prolactin; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone. | |
| GH/PRL/TSH family | |
| (1) GH secretion (14%) | |
| Densely granulated GH adenoma | Silent somatotroph adenoma |
| Sparsely granulated GH adenoma | |
| Mammosomatotroph adenoma | |
| (2) PRL secretion (29%) | |
| Densely granulated PRL adenoma | Silent lactotroph adenoma |
| Sparsely granulated PRL adenoma | |
| Acidophil strem cell adenoma | |
| (3) TSH secretion (1%) | |
| Thyrotroph adenoma | Silent thyrotroph adenoma |
| (β TSH and α subunit) | |
| ACTH family (13%) | |
| ACTH secretion | |
| Corticotroph adenoma | Silent corticotroph adenoma (types I and II) |
| Gonadotroph family (13%) | |
| β FSH/β LH/α subunit secretion | |
| Gonadotroph adenoma | Silent gonadotroph adenoma |
| Other adenomas (30%) | |
| Pleurihormonal adenomas | Null cell adenomas |
| Unclassified adenomas | Oncocytomas |
| Silent subtype III adenoma | |