title: [A case of ectopic pituitary adenoma occurring in the sphenoid sinus].
abstract: Ectopic pituitary adenomas are relatively rare tumors. We present a case of ectopic pituitary adenoma occurring in the sphenoid sinus. A 63-year-old woman was referred to our hospital complaining of headache. She had no endocrinological abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a tumor in the sphenoid sinus, adjacent to the sellar floor and appearing as a low-signal on T1-weighted image and a high signal on T2-weighted image. No connection between the normal pituitary gland and tumor was observed. Using an endonasal-transsphenoidal approach assisted with neuro-endoscopy, we performed total removal of the tumor. No connection between the normal pituitary gland and the tumor was found. Histopathological analysis showed a pituitary adenoma. As demonstrated by our case report, differential diagnosis of a tumor occurring in the sphenoid sinus must include consideration of the existence of an ectopic pituitary adenoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo-city, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamoshima
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terasaka
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ushikoshi
authors.forename: Keiryu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sou
authors.forename: Kiyohiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Houkin
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus