title: Lymphocytic hypophysitis: late recurrence following successful transsphenoidal surgery.
abstract: Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LH) is an inflammatory dis-ease of the anterior pituitary. The varying clinical presentation and the short-term outcome of LH have been extensively described in several case reports or small cohort studies. However, little is known about the long-term outcome of this disease. It is currently believed that if left untreated it may run a self-limited course followed by full resolution of the mass with or without persisting pituitary failure. We describe a 29-yr-old female who presented with secondary amenorrhea, headaches, visual defects, and a pituitary mass, which was removed by transsphenoidal surgery. Histology was consistent with the diagnosis of LH. Following surgery the patient demonstrated a gradual recovery of gonadotroph function with restoration of menses and a successful pregnancy. However, 3 yr after delivery and 6 yr following her initial presentation she developed amenorrhea, headaches, and a pituitary mass. Institution of steroid therapy resulted in resolution of the pituitary mass. In summary, this case illustrates that similarly to many other disorders of autoimmune origin LH may run a fluctuating course and late recurrence is possible even after the successful removal of the inflammatory mass, thus necessitating long-term follow-up of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Evangelismos Hospital, and 2nd Department of Radiology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. stsagara@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsagarakis
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vassiliadi
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malagari
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kontogeorgos
authors.forename: Nicolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thalassinos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence