title: Lymphocytic hypophysitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: A case of lymphocytic hypophysitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus is described. A 20-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with generalized myalgia and facial rash in May 1998. The patient had a medical history, physical examination, and laboratory findings compatible with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Headache and nausea had developed 3 months previously and worsened over the following months. Hormonal investigation showed hypopituitarism except for prolactin. A magnetic resonance image of the brain showed a mass lesion in the pituitary fossa. A trans-sphenoidal surgical procedure was performed which revealed a dark-yellowish hematoma. Microscopic examination showed diffuse infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells with fibrosis in the anterior pituitary. Post-operatively the patient's headaches and nausea resolved. This indicates that lymphocytic hypophysitis may be associated with SLE.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Rheumatic Disease, Hanyang University Medical Center, Korea.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000150:complications; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology