Aspergillosis of the sphenoid sinus simulating a pituitary tumor.
Sphenoidal aspergillosis is an unusual cause of sella turcica enlargement. Pituitary abscess secondary to Aspergillus had been reported. In the present case, a woman with sphenoid sinus aspergillosis mimicked a pituitary tumor. This patient survived her infection with intact pituitary function following a transsphenoidal approach. No postoperative amphotericine-B and 5-fluorocytosine were necessary. CT scan revealed a mass occupying the sphenoid sinus extending to the sella turcica. Factors that should alert the clinican to the presence of a sphenoidal and pituitary abscess in a patient with sella turcica enlargement are prior episodes of sinusitis, meningitis and immunosuppression and, as in the present case, hyperglycemia.
Larrañaga
J
J
Service of Neurosurgery, Hospital General, Vigo, Spain.
Fandiño
J
J
Gomez-Bueno
J
J
Rodriguez
D
D
Gonzalez-Carrero
J
J
Botana
C
C
D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012658:Sella Turcica; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed