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Xue Q, Shi X, Fu X, Yin Y, Zhou H, Liu S, Sun Q, Meng J, Bian L, Tan H, He H. Pituitary abscess: a descriptive analysis of a series of 19 patients-a multi-center experience. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:262. [PMID: 38698484 PMCID: PMC11067254 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01749-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pituitary abscess (PA) accounts for only 0.3-0.5% of sellar masses, and the lack of specific clinical symptoms makes diagnosing PA difficult without a surgical biopsy. In clinical practice, PA is often mistaken for cystic pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, and Rathke's cyst. Thus, this study aims to investigate challenges in diagnosing PA and evaluate the importance of combining intraoperative surgery with postoperative antibiotic treatment. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of 19 patients diagnosed with PA through histopathology. All patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for pituitary adenomas after undergoing comprehensive preoperative evaluations, including routine tests, endocrine assay, and imaging examination. Furthermore, we compared different treatments for pituitary abscess (PA) to determine the most effective approach for achieving a favorable prognosis. RESULTS The most prevalent symptom of PA was headache, especially in the frontal-temporal and vertex regions, ranging from mild to moderate severity. Hypopituitarism-related symptoms were also frequently observed, including hypaphrodisia, cold sensitivity, fatigue, weight loss, polyuria, and amenorrhea. Twelve patients exhibited abnormalities in endocrinology examinations. Diagnosing PA correctly is challenging. In our study, none of the patients were correctly diagnosed with PA prior to surgery, and many sellar lesions were misdiagnosed. The favorable prognosis was largely attributed to surgical intervention and active postoperative antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS Given the lack of clarity in preoperative diagnosis, typical intraoperative findings and effective antibiotics treatment are more indicative of the correct diagnosis than other tests. In terms of therapy, optimal surgical intervention and active postoperative antibiotic treatment contribute to resolving the challenges posed by PA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Xue
- Departments of Neurosurgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Xiuhua Shi
- Department of Radiotherapy & Oncology, The No. 2 People's Hospital of Wuhu City, Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoling Fu
- Department of Medical Psychology, The Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, 51 Fu Cheng Road, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Yating Yin
- Departments of Neurosurgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Suiyi Liu
- Department of Medical Engineering, Third Affiliated Hospital of Navy Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Qingfang Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Rui Jin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jin Meng
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liuguan Bian
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Rui Jin Er Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Hong Tan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hua He
- Departments of Neurosurgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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Stringer F, Foong YC, Tan A, Hayman S, Zajac JD, Grossmann M, Zane JNY, Zhu J, Ayyappan S. Pituitary abscess: a case report and systematic review of 488 cases. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:165. [PMID: 37365629 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02788-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pituitary abscess (PA) is a rare condition and not well understood. We aimed to describe a case and perform a comprehensive systematic review to explore presenting symptoms, radiological findings, endocrine abnormalities and mortality. AIM To identify presenting symptoms, radiological findings, endocrinological abnormalities and predictors of mortality for PA. METHODS We systematically reviewed the literature to identify all case reports of PA. Data regarding presentation, mortality, radiological findings, endocrinological abnormalities and treatment was extracted. RESULTS We identified 488 patients from 218 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Mortality was 5.1%, with days to presentation (OR 1.0005, 95% CI 1.0001-1.0008, p < 0.01) being the only identified independent predictor of mortality. Mortality rates have decreased over time, with cases published prior to 2000 having higher mortality rates (OR 6.92, 95% CI 2.80-17.90, p < 0.001). The most common symptom was headache (76.2%), followed by visual field defects (47.3%). Classical signs of infection were only present in 43%. The most common imaging feature on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was high T2 and low T1 signal of the pituitary gland with peripheral contrast enhancement. Over half (54.8%) were culture negative, with the most common bacterial organism being staphylococcus aureus (7.8%) and fungal organism being aspergillus (8.8%). The most common endocrine abnormality was hypopituitarism (41.1%), followed by diabetes insipidus (24.8%). Whilst symptoms resolved in most patients, persistent endocrine abnormalities were present in over half of patients (61.0%). CONCLUSION PA is associated with significant mortality, with delayed presentation increasing risk of mortality. Ongoing endocrinological abnormalities are common. Given the non-specific clinical presentation, the appearance of high T2, low T1 and peripheral contrast enhancement of the pituitary on MRI should prompt consideration of this rare disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicity Stringer
- Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- St Vincent's Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Yi Chao Foong
- Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
- Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Eastern Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Alanna Tan
- Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Justin Ng Yau Zane
- Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, TAS, Australia
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Ugga L, Franca RA, Scaravilli A, Solari D, Cocozza S, Tortora F, Cavallo LM, De Caro MDB, Elefante A. Neoplasms and tumor-like lesions of the sellar region: imaging findings with correlation to pathology and 2021 WHO classification. Neuroradiology 2023; 65:675-699. [PMID: 36799985 PMCID: PMC10033642 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-023-03120-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
The sellar region represents a complex anatomical area, composed of multiple structures of different embryological derivation, including the skull base and the pituitary gland, along with vascular, nervous, and meningeal structures. Masses arising in this region include benign and malignant lesions arising from the pituitary gland itself, but also from vestigial embryological residues or surrounding tissues, that may require different therapeutic approaches. While assessing sellar region masses, the combination of clinical presentation and imaging features is fundamental to define hypotheses about their nature. MR represents the imaging modality of choice, providing information about the site of the lesion, its imaging features, and relation with adjacent structures, while CT is useful to confirm the presence of lesion calcifications or to reveal tumor invasion of bony structures. The aim of this pictorial review is to provide an overview of the common neoplasms and tumor-like conditions of the sellar region, according to the 2021 WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System (fifth edition), with an emphasis on the radiologic-pathologic correlation. After a brief introduction on the anatomy of this region and the imaging and pathological techniques currently used, the most relevant MRI characteristics, clinical findings, and pathological data, including histologic and molecular features, will be shown and discussed, with the aim of facilitating an appropriate differential diagnosis among these entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Ugga
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Raduan Ahmed Franca
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Scaravilli
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
| | - Domenico Solari
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Sirio Cocozza
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Fabio Tortora
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Maria Cavallo
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Elefante
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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