title: Sphenoid sinus aspergillosis simulating pituitary tumor in immunocompetent patient.
abstract: Aspergillosis of the sphenoid sinus is rare in immunocompetent patients. It may be mistaken for a sellar region tumor. A 65-year-old, human immunodeficiency virus-negative man presented with a 3-week history of cranial nerve III paresis and visual deterioration. The patient had a long-term history of tobacco snuff abuse. CT scans and MRI demonstrated a space-occupying lesion of the sellar and sphenoid sinus region. Presumptive diagnosis of pituitary macroadenoma was made and the patient was operated on via a transnasal-transsphenoidal approach. After the sphenoid sinus was opened, a yellow-brownish gluey material with crumbly debris extruded and was aspirated. The dura was intact. Histopathology revealed numerous Aspergillus hyphae without tissue invasion. Postoperatively, the cranial nerve III paresis resolved in a few days and visual acuity improved. Sphenoid sinus aspergillosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of sellar region processes, even in immunocompetent patients. Early diagnosis and transsphenoidal removal provides good results without the need for systemic antifungal therapy in non-invasive aspergillosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpital des Spécialités, Mohamed Vth University School of Medicine, BP 6444, Rabat-Instituts, Rabat 10100, Morocco. mahjoubanch@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boutarbouch
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arkha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Ouahabi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derraz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Khamlichi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001230:Aspergillus; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020953:Neuroaspergillosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015840:Oculomotor Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D015524:Sphenoid Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000209:etiology