title: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia presenting as a pituitary mass lesion.
abstract: We describe a unique case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in a patient who presented with bitemporal hemianopsia, adrenal insufficiency, and gonadotrophin deficiency. Studies revealed an enhancing intrasellar mass with suprasellar extension and displacement of the optic chiasm. Peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies disclosed a monoclonal IgM kappa expressing B-cell CLL. Biopsy of the pituitary mass revealed dense infiltration of the pituitary gland by leukemic cells. This is, to our knowledge, the first reported case of CLL presenting as a pituitary mass lesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, UCLA Medical Center 90024-1732.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fain
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naeim
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Herle
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yan-Go
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petrus
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Vinters
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009897:Optic Chiasm / Q000473:pathology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed