Pituitary abscess

A 28-year-old Caucasian woman presented with a 12 month history of secondary amenorrhoea, polyuria and polydipsia with fatigue and weight loss. Investigations revealed panhypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, an intrasellar mass and papilloedema, thought to be due to benign intracranial hypertension. She was treated conservatively. However, a repeat magnetic resonance image showed enlargement of the pituitary mass with compression of the optic nerves. The pituitary abscess was drained by a transsphenoidal approach. Postoperatively the patient received antibiotics with no recurrence of the pituitary abscess.     

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.     

垂体脓肿的临床特征和经蝶窦手术治疗

目的 分析垂体脓肿的临床特征和经蝶窦手术治疗。方法 12例垂体脓肿的术前症状依次为尿崩症、头痛、垂体功能低下和视功能障碍。MRI显示垂体类圆形肿物。均经蝶窦入路显微外科手术清除脓肿，反复冲洗和放置引流。结果 随诊1～10年。头痛缓解为71％(5／7)，视功能改善80％(4／5)，尿崩症缓解63％(5／8)，垂体功能低下改善50％(3／6)。结论 当MRI显示垂体肿物的病人出现严重的尿崩症和垂体功能低下时，应考虑到垂体脓肿。怀疑为垂体脓肿者应及时经蝶窦术清除脓肿和引流。     

Pituitary abscess

Pituitary abscess is a rare disease, but one with potentially high mortality and morbidity. We present a 46-year-old man with progressive visual disturbance and general malaise for 1 year. Endocrine studies revealed hypopituitarism, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a pituitary lesion with suprasellar extension. We attempted to excise the lesion using a transsphenoidal approach, but pus in the pituitary fossa was found at operation, and no tumour was identified. The culture yielded coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Antibiotics were administered for 3 weeks, and the patient made a good postoperative recovery. He required life-long hormone replacement therapy. After one and a half years of follow-up, he was well and had no evidence of focal or systemic infection. We review the literature regarding pituitary abscess and discuss the appropriate treatment and possible pathological mechanism.     

垂体脓肿的诊断和经蝶窦显微手术治疗

目的：探讨垂体脓肿的诊断和经蝶窦显微手术治疗。方法：经蝶窦显微手术证实为垂体脓肿７例，３例术前诊断为垂体脓肿，４例诊断为其它鞍区病变。男性５例，女性２例，平均年龄３８．８岁，平均病程２．３年。临床症状尿崩症５例，垂体功能低下４例，头痛３例，视力视野障碍２例，动眼神经麻痹１例。手术中彻底清除脓肿，放置碘仿纱条引流。结果：随诊３个月～６年，影像学检查脓肿征象均消失。３例头痛、２例视神经功能障碍术后缓解；３例尿崩症、２例垂体功能低下改善，１例术后２年复发。结论：若鞍区病变不大，但引起较严重的蝶鞍骨质破坏，表现为尿崩症和垂体功能低下时，应首先考虑垂体脓肿。及时手术探查，彻底清除脓肿和术后使用抗生素是治疗垂体脓肿的关键     

A rare case of a secondary pituitary abscess arising in a craniopharyngioma with atypical presentation and clinical course

Pituitary abscesses are very uncommon. They are divided into primary, arising within a healthy gland, and secondary, observed with an underlying pre-existing lesion. Here we present the eighth case reported of a secondary abscess within a craniopharyngioma.A 59-year-old-woman presented with a 3-week history of headache, and fever. Physical examination was unremarkable. An Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed a pituitary lesion suggestive of a chronic inflammatory process. She was diagnosed with lymphocytic meningitis with hypophysitis and she was treated with corticosteroids. Two months later she presented with headache and fever again. Control MRI showed enlargement of the pituitary lesion. Therefore, a transsphenoidal biopsy was performed. During the procedure, purulent material was released. Histological study demonstrated a craniopharyngioma and meningeal inflammation. Empiric antibiotics were started. Three months post-operatively, a follow-up MRI showed a suspect minimal residual mass.Secondary pituitary abscesses are rare. The key to successful management is a high index of suspicion. Transsphenoidal surgical evacuation plus antibiotics is the mainstay of treatment. Although most symptoms resolve, endocrinopathies improve only rarely.     

Severe cardiovascular complications due to the pituitary adenoma with acromegaly. An interdisciplinary approach to the treatment. A case report

Acromegaly reduces life expectancy and leads to 3-5-fold increase in mortality. The main causes are cardiovascular, pulmonary and enhanced prevalence of deaths from malignancy. Successful therapy ought to normalize GH, IGF-I secretion, remove the adenoma mass and its local pressure effects and preserve pituitary functions intact to improve systemic morbidity and normalize mortality. The primary therapy for most patients with acromegaly is still transsphenoidal adenomectomy. The authors present a 64-year-old woman with diagnosed GH-secreting pituitary macroadenoma suffering from severe coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus. Somatostatin analogue therapy was ineffective in our patient. She was unfit for transsphenoidal adenomectomy. The patient was qualified for coronary artery bypass grafting after cardiological investigation. We have decided to carry out the bypass grafting and transsphenoidal adenomectomy during one anaesthesia. Both surgical procedures and postoperative time were uncomplicated. Our patient feels well and she is in outpatient follow-up.     

垂体脓肿8例临床分析

目的探讨垂体脓肿的临床特征和治疗.方法回顾性分析8例垂体脓肿患者的临床表现、影像学特征、诊断和治疗,并结合文献进行分析.结果8例患者中仅1例有明显颅内感染征象,视力视野障碍者5例,尿崩者4例,垂体功能低下者4例,影像学常无特征性改变.4例经开颅手术,4例经蝶手术治疗.术后随访5例患者中4例脓肿无复发,视力视野改善者2例,尿崩者2例恢复正常,垂体功能低下者随访2例患者中1例恢复正常,1例经翼点入路手术者脓肿复发.结论垂体脓肿术前诊断困难,对鞍区囊性病变应考虑到垂体脓肿的可能,及早手术、正确地选择手术入路、合理应用抗生素和适当的对症治疗是治疗垂体脓肿的关键.     

MR imaging and CT of pituitary abscess: Case report and review

Abstract

Pituitary abscess is a rare disorder. However, preoperative diagnosis is important to prevent a cranial approach leading to severe meningitis. A case of a 55 year-old woman with pituitary abcess is reported. The patient was admitted with a several-week history of frontal headache and no signs of inflammation. Computed tomographic (CT) scan showed a slightly low-density suprasellar expanding mass lesion with an enhanced thin wall in the pituitary region. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a homogenous high- intensity signal relative to brain parenchyma on T1 -weighted images with an enhanced thin wall and a homogenous low-intensity signal on T2-weighted images. This was histologically shown to be a pituitary abscess. Our case and review of the available literature suggest that pituitary abscess generally shows a homogenous low-density on CT scan and a homogenous low- to iso- and high-intensity signals or homogenous high- and low-intensity signals on T1- and T2-weighted images, respectively, with a cystic appearance and enhanced smooth wall. [Neurol Res 1996; 18: 495-498]     

MRI and CT in a case of pituitary abscess.

We report the case of a woman admitted for hypopituitarism of sudden onset, in whom conventional radiography, CT and MRT suggested a pituitary tumour with supra- and intrasellar extensions. The surgical findings and the clinical course under antibiotic therapy transformed this diagnosis into one of pituitary abscess by a pyogenic micro-organism. Pituitary abscess is an exceptional lesion. Despite the advent of CT and MRI, its preoperative diagnosis remains difficult. However, the presence of an intrasellar expansive process with liquid centre and contrast-enhanced outline should suggest the possibility of an abscess, particularly when the pituitary lesion is associated with a sphenoidal sinus effusion.     

Aspergillus sellar abscess: case report and review of the literature

Aspergillus sellar abscess is a very rare form of fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS). In this report, we describe the successful treatment of a patient with aspergillus sellar abscess. A 65-year-old woman presented with headache, nasal discharge and decreased visual acuity. The diagnosis of sellar mass was made on the basis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. The computed tomography (CT) scan revealed sellar enlargement and sellar floor bony destruction. After hospitalization the patient underwent transsphenoidal surgery. Histopathological examination of the sellar mass revealed aspergillosis. Postoperatively, amphotericine-B and itraconazole therapy was started. During a six-month follow-up, the patient's headache and inertia disappeared, visual acuity improved. Aspergillus sellar abscess must be considered in the differential diagnosis of a sellar mass. The correct diagnosis of pituitary aspergillosis can only be achieved by histopathological examination. Surgical intervention and antifungal therapy should be considered the optimal treatment.     

Pituitary macroadenoma causing symptomatic internal carotid artery compression: Surgical treatment through transsphenoidal tumor resection

Pituitary macroadenomas can invade the cavernous sinus and rarely cause occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Most patients with symptomatic obstruction of the ICA by a pituitary tumor have been reported as a result of apoplexy. The authors review the literature about this condition and report a 48-year-old man who presented with transient ischemic attacks leading to a stroke. Imaging studies demonstrated complete occlusion of the left ICA and critical narrowing of the right ICA at the level of the clinoid processes, most likely due to macroadenoma mass effect. There was no radiologic evidence of apoplexy. Surgical resection of the tumor and ICA decompression via the transsphenoidal route resulted in prevention of further symptoms. Histopathologic analysis confirmed a nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma without evidence of hemorrhage or intratumoral infarction. This patient, to the authors’ knowledge, is the first documented patient with symptomatic carotid compression by a pituitary adenoma without evidence of apoplexy.     

CT and MRI findings in primitive pituitary abscess: a case report and review of literature

Pituitary abscess is not rare. Clinical and radiological features in a primitive pituitary abscess are reported. Transphenoidal surgery revealed an abscess. Preoperative diagnosis of pituitary abscess remains difficult. Sellar round cystic mass isointense to grey matter on T1, high intensity signal on T2, with a peripheral rim enhancement following gadolinium injection associated with thickened stalk and diabetes insipidus may be suggestive of pituitary abscess.     

Abscess formation within invasive pituitary adenoma.

Pituitary abscess secondary to an adenoma is rare. To date, only 19 cases have been reported. This is the first report of a patient who presented with bilateral total ophthalmoplegia. A 59-year-old male patient presented with headache, nausea, vomiting, decreasing visual acuity, diplopia and bilateral ophthalmoplegia with ptosis. Magnetic resonance imaging was suggestive of a pituitary abscess with adenoma. Transphenoidal surgery was performed and, during debulking of the tumour, the abscess was seen and excised. After the operation, the patient received antibiotic therapy and his neurological condition improved. Pituitary abscess with adenoma is a serious condition that has a high mortality rate. Therefore, early diagnosis and surgical intervention with antibiotic therapy are necessary.     

复发垂体ACTH腺瘤的诊断和再次经蝶手术治疗

目的探讨垂体ACTH腺瘤库欣病术后复发的诊断和再次经蝶手术疗效.方法352例ACTH垂体腺瘤病人经蝶手术后,皮质醇降至正常,其后12例症状复发,皮质醇增高,CT或MRI显示9例垂体腺瘤复发,均行再次经蝶手术.结果随诊1～12年,7例皮质醇降至正常,5例皮质醇仍高,其中3例行垂体放疗和肾上腺切除术,2例行肾上腺切除术.结论对于病理为复发性垂体腺瘤的库欣病首选再次经蝶手术,如果术后皮质醇仍高,可行垂体放疗和肾上腺切除术.     

垂体脓肿的诊断、治疗和长期随访

目的垂体脓肿是一种少见的鞍区感染性疾病,其临床表现没有特异性,术前诊断比较困难。为了更好地发现其临床特点以助于临床诊断,为了评估垂体脓肿手术治疗的疗效及其长期转归,我们分析总结了我院手术治疗的垂体脓肿病例资料。方法回顾性分析总结北京协和医院1991年～2007年17年间手术证实和治疗的30例垂体脓肿病例,对所有病例的详细病史资料、术前术后的影像学资料和内分泌检查结果及长期随访资料均进行了仔细分析和总结。结果垂体脓肿患者往往因为垂体占位性病变的相关症状而就诊,很少表现为感染相关的症状。中枢性尿崩、垂体功能低下、头痛是最常见的临床症状;MRI表现多样,但多数具有脓肿的典型表现即鞍区囊性占位,静脉注射对比剂后可见病灶边缘环形强化;尽管术后复发并不少见,大多数垂体脓肿通过手术引流可以治愈,但垂体功能低下往往很难恢复,需要长期激素替代治疗。结论临床上表现为尿崩、垂体功能低下伴有环形强化的鞍区占位往往提示垂体脓肿的诊断;治疗上首选经蝶脓肿引流手术,尽管伴有一定的复发率,手术往往可以治愈脓肿,但垂体功能低下往往不能恢复,需要重视长期替代治疗。     

垂体脓肿的诊断与治疗

目的 探讨垂体脓肿的临床特点、诊断和治疗.方法 回顾性分析15例垂体脓肿患者的临床表现、影像学特征、诊断和治疗.结果 15例垂体脓肿术前误诊13例,9例经鼻蝶窦入路,2例经额下入路后改为经鼻蝶窦入路,4例行额下入路.15例患者术后均恢复良好,随诊未见复发.结论 早期出现视力和视野改变、尿崩和环形强化的鞍区囊性病灶应首先怀疑垂体脓肿,早诊断,合理应用抗生素,正确选择手术入路,及时手术治疗是改善预后的关键.     

Severe lymphocytic adenohypophysitis with selective disappearance of prolactin cells: a histologic, ultrastructural and immunoelectron microscopic study

We report the first documented example (case 1) of lymphocytic adenohypophysitis (LAH) associated with selective destruction of prolactin cells. The morphologic data are compared to those obtained in another, more typical case (case 2). Case 1 was a 35-year-old woman with remote history of pregnancy who presented with headache, oligomenorrhea and visual disturbances. The blood prolactin level was nearly undetectable, but no deficiency of other pituitary hormones was evident. A sellar and parasellar mass compressing the optic chiasm was removed transsphenoidally. Histology demonstrated massive infiltration with lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages causing marked destruction of pituitary acini. Part of the gland was fibrotic. Immunocytochemistry documented all pituitary hormones, but only few cells, probably mammosomatotrophs, were immunoreactive for prolactin. Electron microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy using double gold labeling for growth hormone and prolactin detected no prolactin cells. A striking ultrastructural finding was the prominence of folliculostellate cells in areas of active cell destruction supporting the presumed immune role of these cells. LAH in case 2 (24-year-old woman) became manifest during late pregnancy, causing pituitary enlargement and visual field defects. Pituitary tests showed no major hormonal deficits. Moderate hyperprolactinemia was appropriate for her pregnancy status. A sellar mass, thought to be adenoma, was removed. Histology demonstrated multifocal LAH without major destruction of acinar structures. Immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy documented all pituitary cell types including the marked abundance of prolactin-producing cells, resultant of gestational prolactin cell hyperplasia. In addition to prolactin cells and growth hormone cells, immunoelectron microscopy showed several bihormonal mammosomatotrophs, also appropriate for pregnancy.     

垂体脓肿的诊断和治疗

目的 为提高对垂体脓肿的诊治水平。方法 报道9例垂体脓肿,结合文献对其临床表现、影像学特征、诊断和治疗进行分析讨论。结果 9例中2例术前诊断为垂体脓肿,7例诊断为其它鞍区病变。5例经鼻蝶手术,4例经额下或翼点入路手术。术后均给予抗菌素治疗。术后视神经功能障碍恢复不理想,其它症状均改善,无脓肿复发。结论 早期诊断、及时手术清除脓肿和术后应用抗菌素是治疗垂体脓肿的关键。     

垂体脓肿(附五例报告及文献复习)

目的 探讨垂体脓肿的临床特点、早期诊断和治疗选择。方法 5例垂体脓肿均行手术治疗，3例经额下入路，2例经蝶入路。本文逐一分析了对5例垂体脓肿的诊疗经验。结果 男性3例，女性2例，年龄在12～56岁，主要症状为感染史，头痛，视力减退，多饮多尿和垂体功能低下等。神经影像学表现为：强化的T1加权像可见鞍内／鞍上低密度肿物，周围有强化环。5例患者术后均恢复良好，随诊未见复发。结论 垂体脓肿早期明确诊断后，最佳选择为经蝶手术治疗。