title: Pituitary abscess.
abstract: Pituitary abscess is a rare disease, but one with potentially high mortality and morbidity. We present a 46-year-old man with progressive visual disturbance and general malaise for 1 year. Endocrine studies revealed hypopituitarism, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a pituitary lesion with suprasellar extension. We attempted to excise the lesion using a transsphenoidal approach, but pus in the pituitary fossa was found at operation, and no tumour was identified. The culture yielded coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Antibiotics were administered for 3 weeks, and the patient made a good postoperative recovery. He required life-long hormone replacement therapy. After one and a half years of follow-up, he was well and had no evidence of focal or systemic infection. We review the literature regarding pituitary abscess and discuss the appropriate treatment and possible pathological mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7 Chung-Shan S. Rd, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Hao
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Sheng-Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D020806:Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents