MR imaging and CT of pituitary abscess: Case report and review |
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Authors: | Masanori Kabuto Toshihiko Kubota Hidenori Kobayashi Hiroaki Takeuchi Tetsuya Kubota Takao Nakagawa |
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Institution: | Department of Neurosurgery, Fukui Medical School, Fukui 910-11, Japan |
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Abstract: | AbstractPituitary 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] |
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Keywords: | Pituitary abscess magnetic resonance imaging computed tomography |
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