A Case of Pituitary Abscess

ABSTRACT

Abscess formation within the sellar turcica is a rather entity. The development of such as abscess may be due to a direct extension of adjacent infections, such as sphenoid sinusitis, osteomyelitis of the floor of the sella or infections of other sinuses, or may be transmitted through the blood stream. Several intrinsic lesions of the pituitary gland may favor the development of infections. A case of pituitary abscess is reported in which the clinical history, manifestation and laboratory data of 32 year-old Korean female showed a strong resemblance to those in pituitary adenomas. At operation a soft cystic mass was exposed and identified in the pituitary fossa of which content was yellow pus and drained. Studies of the cyst wall and content demonstrated non-specific inflammation of the pituitary gland. A brief review of abscess in the pituitary fossa is presented.