Bacterial pituitary abscess: an unusual cause of panhypopituitarism.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of primary bacterial pituitary abscess manifesting as hypopituitarism.


METHODS
We present the case history, hormonal and bacteriologic data, and findings on imaging studies in a 34-year-old man.


RESULTS
The patient had an 8-month history of intermittent fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Because a computed tomographic scan of the head showed a cystic sellar mass with ring enhancement, he was referred to our medical center. On physical examination, he showed signs of meningeal irritation and had mild hypotension. Hormonal evaluation revealed evidence of hypocortisolism, hypothyroidism, and hypogonadism. Three weeks after treatment with antibiotics and hormonal replacement, he underwent transsphenoidal surgical exploration and evacuation of purulent material from the sella. On culture, this specimen grew coagulase-negative staphylococci and Propionibacterium granulosum. Nine months later, dynamic testing showed persistent central hypocortisolism, hypothyroidism, and hypogonadism.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacterial pituitary abscess is rare but manifests similar to other pituitary masses with headaches, visual field defects, and hormonal disturbances. For the correct preoperative diagnosis of this condition, the physician must have a high index of suspicion, and the characteristic ring enhancement must be present on imaging studies.
Hernández
Irma
I
Endocrinology Section/Experimental Endocrinology Unit, Hospital de, Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del, Seguro Social, México City, México.
Garcia
Liliana
L
Guinto
Gerardo
G
Cabrera
Lourdes
L
Mercado
Moisés
M
D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005334:Fever; D006261:Headache; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000382:microbiology; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000382:microbiology*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000382:microbiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000172:deficiency; D011424:Propionibacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D015431:Weight Loss
D010907:Pituitary Hormones