title: Lymphocytic hypophysitis.
abstract: Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LH) is a rare but increasingly recognized inflammatory disorder of the pituitary, usually associated with pregnancy. Knowledge of this condition is largely anecdotal; the cause, incidence, and natural history are unknown. Cases are usually discovered at biopsy and surgical intervention for a presumptive pituitary neoplasm. Here we describe two cases of lymphocytic hypophysitis. In the first case the patient underwent surgery for presumptive adenoma, and pathology at resection established the diagnosis of lymphocytic hypophysitis. The second case was strongly suspicious for LH by history, endocrine profile, and imaging, and was managed nonoperatively. Though magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features are not diagnostic, knowledge of imaging features together with clinical history may permit avoidance of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, USA.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cauley
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalal
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Hillary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onyiuke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000172:deficiency; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D010907:Pituitary Hormones