[Endocrinologic recovery after treatment of an intrasellar aneurysm].
OBJECTIVE
Cavernous intrasellar aneurysms are rare, but may be clinically mistaken for an hypophyseal tumor, thus the need for a preoperative diagnosis.


METHODS
We report on a 60-year-old woman suffering from retroorbital headache, diplopia and decreased visual acuity, along with hyperprolactinemia and both gonadotropic and thyreotropic deficencies. Computed tomography revealed a sellar mass with superior extension, but MR raised the possibility of a cavernous aneurysm, that was confirmed by arteriography, avoiding a disastrous transsphenoidal surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracavernous aneurysms are known having a benign course, but serious meningeal hemorrhage can occur in 1.4% of cases and carotid-cavernous fistulae in 8% of patients, warranting treatment. Medial development is rare and may be responsible for endocrinologic manifestations. Neurosurgical approach remains hazardous, and endovascular occlusion represents the method of choice.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracavernous aneurysm must be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of pituitary masses because it has a completely different management.
Slaba
S
S
Département d'imagerie médicale, Hôtel-Dieu de France (HDF), Université Saint-Joseph (USJ), Beyrouth. sslaba@hotmail.com
Medlej
R
R
Smayra
T
T
Zafatayeff
S
S
Nohra
G
G
Okais
N
N
Halaby
G
G
D000792:Angiography; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged