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.