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Advances in MRI and radiomics for pituitary neuroendocrine tumors under the new WHO classification
YANG Yuhan  HE Yexin 

DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.07.021.


[Abstract] Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are common intracranial neoplasms whose subtypes exhibit varied imaging features. Accurate subtyping and imaging evaluation are therefore critical for individualized treatment planning and prognostic assessment. The fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors has established a novel molecular subtyping framework centered on cell lineage-specific transcription factors, imposing higher demands on preoperative diagnosis. However, most existing studies remain based on hormonal classification, and a systematic review structured around this updated taxonomy is still lacking, limiting its ability to meet clinical needs for precision medicine. Accordingly, this article provides a comprehensive review of recent advances in conventional MRI and multiparametric MRI-based radiomics for PitNETs, organized according to the new WHO classification framework. The roles of these imaging approaches in evaluating tumor invasiveness and consistency and in predicting prognosis are discussed, and relevant findings from functional MRI studies are briefly incorporated. Current challenges and future directions are further analyzed, with the aim of providing a reference for precision diagnosis and treatment of PitNETs.
[Keywords] pituitary neuroendocrine tumors；magnetic resonance imaging；radiomics；molecular subtypes；preoperative assessment

YANG Yuhan1   HE Yexin2*  

1 Department of Medical Imaging, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China

2 Department of Radiology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliate of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030012, China

Corresponding author: HE Y X, E-mail: heyexinty2000@sina.com

Conflicts of interest   None.

Received  2026-02-13
Accepted  2026-06-09
DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.07.021
DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.07.021.

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