title: Tuberculomas of the hypophysis cerebri: report of five cases.
abstract: Tuberculomas involving the hypophysis cerebri are extremely rare lesions, and these may occur even in the absence of systemic tuberculosis. This report presents the clinical data of 5 patients harbouring tuberculomas of the pituitary gland. Sellar tuberculomas commonly mimic pituitary adenoma. Histological diagnosis of a sellar lesion is mandatory irrespective of the clinical presentation and radiological findings. A history of extracranial tuberculosis in the past associated with radiological findings like leptomeningeal enhancement, parenchymatous brain tuberculomas or a thickened pituitary stalk on contrast MRI, are indicative of the possibility of a sellar tuberculoma. The aim of surgery is tissue diagnosis and tumour debulking. The response to long-term antituberculous chemotherapy is excellent. There is often a complete resolution of the granuloma and a satisfactory recovery of visual and endocrinological function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Seth G. S. Medical College, Parel, Mumbai, India. drketandesai@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ketan I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Trimurti D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Nadkarni
authors.forename: Atul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014375:Tuberculoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents