Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

07:43
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Cell proliferation parameters and apoptosis indices in pituitary macroadenomas
R M Ruggeri1, G Costa, A Simone
1Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Messina, Messina, 98125, Italy.
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
|September 8, 2011
Summary
Pituitary macroadenoma recurrence is linked to cavernous sinus invasiveness, not proliferation or apoptosis markers. Pre-surgical MRI is key for predicting tumor regrowth after resection.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neurosurgery
- Oncology
Background:
- Pituitary adenomas, typically well-differentiated, can exhibit aggressive local behavior.
- Understanding factors predicting recurrence is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the correlation between proliferation and apoptosis markers and tumor recurrence in pituitary macroadenomas.
- To identify predictive factors for recurrence in radically resected pituitary macroadenomas.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry (FCM) analyzed proliferative activity and DNA ploidy.
- Immunohistochemistry assessed Ki-67/MIB-1 and Bcl-2 expression.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluated tumor regrowth post-surgery.
Main Results:
- Six of 20 macroadenomas recurred; recurrence was associated with higher pre-surgical tumor size and cavernous sinus (CS) invasiveness.
- Aneuploid adenomas showed higher proliferation rates (%SPF, %G2-M, PI) than diploid ones.
- No significant differences in FCM parameters, MIB-1, or Bcl-2 expression were found between recurrent and non-recurrent tumors.
Conclusions:
- Cavernous sinus invasiveness on pre-surgical MRI is a significant predictor of pituitary macroadenoma recurrence.
- Flow cytometry parameters and MIB-1/Bcl-2 expression were not found to be useful predictors of recurrence in this cohort.

