Non-pituitary origin sellar tumours mimicking pituitary macroadenomas.

Although the large majority of sellar tumours are pituitary adenomas, several other pituitary and non-pituitary origin tumours arise in the sellar and parasellar regions. Given their location, non-adenomatous lesions frequently mimic pituitary macroadenomas and can pose a diagnostic challenge for the radiologist. Distinguishing rare sellar lesions from the common macroadenoma helps to direct the correct surgical approach and reduce the risk of incomplete resection and/or complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leak with the potential for meningitis. The purpose of this article is to review the imaging features of non-pituitary-origin sellar tumours, focusing on characteristics that may distinguish them from pituitary macroadenomas. Lesions include meningioma, metastatic disease, epidermoid cyst, germinoma, chondrosarcoma, giant cell tumour, and giant aneurysm.

Congenital brain tumors.

The most common brain tumor that was present or produced symptoms at birth was teratoma. In this series of congenital tumors, teratomas occurred over 5 times more frequently than the second most common type, astrocytoma. They were often immature because of primitive neural elements and, rarely, a component of mixed malignant germ cell tumors. Incidence between sexes was nearly identical among histologic types that were reported at least 10 times, except for choroid plexus papilloma, which exhibited a male predominance. Four of five meningiomas occurred in males and 4 of 5 sarcomas in females. The predilection of neonatal brain tumors for supratentorial locations was also observed in this series of tumors present at birth. Teratomas occurred above the tentorium almost exclusively and all craniopharyngiomas and 14 of 16 choroid plexus tumors occurred supratentorially. At birth, large head or tense fontanel was a presenting sign in at least 55% of patients. Neurologic symptoms as initial symptoms were comparatively rare. Teratomas and craniopharyngiomas are tumors believed to arise because of developmental defects and these were the tumors that most often occurred with other anomalies. Anomalies were usually located in the head, with cleft lip or palate being most frequent. Prognosis for patients with brain tumors at birth was very poor, usually because of the massive size of the tumor. However, if small and favorably located, tumors were resected successfully. The most favorable outcomes were with choroid plexus tumors where aggressive treatment led to disease-free survival.