title: Pituitary abscess.
abstract: All cases of pituitary abscesses (19 patients) reported in the literature since 1970 are reviewed. Based on the data available, it is suggested that a pituitary abscess is not a bacterial infection as commonly assumed. Probably, it represents a normal tissue reaction to an infarction of a pituitary adenoma. The frequent association with negative cultures from the abscesses, previous sterile meningitis and endocrine disturbances, and concurrent rhinorrhoea are well explained in this way.
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications