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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of neuroradiology Vol. 19; no. 2; p. 139
Main Authors Bossard, D, Himed, A, Badet, C, Lapras, V, Mornex, R, Fisher, G, Tavernier, T, Bochu, M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
French
Published France 1992
Subjects
Abscess - diagnosis
Abscess - diagnostic imaging
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Middle Aged
Pituitary Diseases - diagnosis
Pituitary Diseases - diagnostic imaging
Pituitary Diseases - microbiology
Sphenoid Sinusitis - microbiology
Staphylococcal Infections - diagnosis
Staphylococcal Infections - diagnostic imaging
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0150-9861