Primary pituitary abscess: case report

Pituitary abscesses are potentially life-threatening lesions if not appropriately diagnosed and treated. The authors have operated on more than five hundred cases of pituitary tumors and only one represented a case of pituitary abscess. A 35-year-old woman was investigated for chronic frontal headache. CT scan showed a cystic sellar lesion with ring enhancement after contrast injection leading to an initial diagnosis of pituitary adenoma. She underwent a sublabial transsphenoidal approach to the pituitary gland. After dural opening, purulent material was obtained and no tumor or other associated lesion was detected. There was no evidence of current or previous septicemic illness, meningitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis or sinus infection. Cultures were negative. She was put on antibiotics and discharged after 4 weeks. Nowadays, 10 years after treatment, she is doing well, with no anterior pituitary hormone deficit. MRI shows a partially empty sella without residual lesion and the pituitary stalck is in the midline. The early diagnosis and adequate treatment of this life-threatening lesion may result in excellent prognosis.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hanel,Ricardo Alexandre, Koerbel,Andrei, Prevedello,Daniel Monte-Serrat, Moro,Marlus Sydnei, Araújo,João Cândido
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 2002
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2002000500033
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!