ABSTRACT
Pituitary is the most important gland of the organism which can be affected by many diseases, especially by adenomatous processes. Classically macroadenoma, microadenoma and picoadenoma are described, according to the size of the pituitary adenoma. The diagnosis of microadenoma was long considered a highly difficult task and that of picoadenoma was impossible by computed tomography. Recently, the high resolution of multiplanar MRI has enabled the diagnosis of microadenomas measuring less than 3 mm (picoadenoma). For macroadenoma, MRI not only contributes to diagnosis but is particularly important to assess the extension and to detect possible complications. The aim of our study is to illustrate MRI features in pituitary adenoma.
Subject(s)
Adenoma/diagnosis , Pituitary Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adenoma/classification , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Pituitary Gland/anatomy & histology , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
Metastatic tumors of the pituitary gland are not commonly diagnosed during life in cancer patients. The occurrence of symptomatic lesions is also very unusual and difficult to differentiate clinically and radiologically from pituitary adenomas. We report a case of pituitary metastasis which was the prime manifestation of a small cell lung carcinoma in a 40-year-old man. This cancer was revealed by diabetes insipidus and a hypopituitarism.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Small Cell/secondary , Diabetes Insipidus/diagnosis , Hypopituitarism/diagnosis , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Pituitary Neoplasms/diagnosis , Pituitary Neoplasms/secondary , Adult , Biopsy , Carcinoma, Small Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Small Cell/therapy , Combined Modality Therapy , Diabetes Insipidus/complications , Fatal Outcome , Humans , Hypopituitarism/complications , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Pituitary Neoplasms/therapy , Radiography, ThoracicABSTRACT
Hypophyseal tuberculoma is extremely rare. It may be confused with other more common sellar tumors such as adenomas. Characteristic, but not specific, radiological features are in the majority of cases: intense enhancement on contrast CT and thickening of the pituitary stalk better visible on MRI. We describe imaging findings in two patients with pituitary tuberculosis. In these cases an accurate non-invasive diagnosis was found to be important as antituberculous chemotherapy is curative.
