Xanthogranuloma of the Sellar Region Case Report

• Published in: Neurologia medico-chirurgica Vol. 50; no. 6; pp. 488 - 491
• Main Authors: ARAI, Atsushi, NISHIHARA, Masamitsu, SASAYAMA, Takashi, AIHARA, Hideo, HOSODA, Kohkichi, ITOH, Tomoo, SAKAGAMI, Yoshio, KUWAMURA, Keiichi, KOHMURA, Eiji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Japan The Japan Neurosurgical Society 2010; THE JAPAN NEUROSURGICAL SOCIETY
• Subjects: craniopharyngioma; Female; Humans; hypopituitarism; Hypopituitarism - etiology; Middle Aged; pituitary adenoma; Radiography; Sella Turcica - diagnostic imaging; Sella Turcica - pathology; Sella Turcica - surgery; sellar tumor; Skull Base Neoplasms - complications; Skull Base Neoplasms - diagnosis; Skull Base Neoplasms - surgery; Treatment Outcome; xanthogranuloma of the sellar region; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile - complications; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile - diagnosis; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile - surgery
• ISSN: 0470-8105; 1349-8029
• DOI: 10.2176/nmc.50.488

A 55-year-old woman presented with a rare xanthogranuloma of the sellar region after complaining of severe headache and visual disturbance 3 months previously. Clinical examination showed she was alert with early signs of bitemporal hemianopsia. Endocrinological examination revealed hypopituitarism. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an intrasellar mass extending into the suprasellar region and compressing the optic chiasma, which appeared homogeneously hyperintense on T1-weighted images. Endonasal transsphenoidal resection of the tumor was performed. Histological examination disclosed granulomatous tissue with cholesterol clefts, hemosiderin deposits, fibrous tissues, and macrophages containing rich fat. The histological diagnosis was xanthogranuloma of the sellar region. Her visual symptoms recovered postoperatively although the hypopituitarism remained. Xanthogranuloma of the sellar region is rare, but must be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumors of the sellar region.