| Brain MRI Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in a Patient with a Pituitary Abscess Presenting with Oculomotor Nerve Palsy: A Case Report |
|
Jin Eun , Ik Seong Park |
|
Departmet of Neurosurgery, Bucheon St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea |
|
|
| Abstract |
|
Pituitary abscesses are uncommon, but require correct diagnosis and early surgery, as they may become fatal if proper management is delayed. Despite advances in neuroimaging techniques, these cases are often misdiagnosed as cystic pituitary adenomas or Rathke’s cleft cysts. In such cases, surgery may be delayed when there are no offending symptoms. Here, we report the case of a patient with a pituitary abscess that was diagnosed before surgery via brain diffusion weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient presented with clinical signs of facial pain and oculomotor nerve palsy, suggesting cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis. Brain MRI revealed an intrasellar cystic mass. Pus and adenoma were noticed during trans-sphenoidal tumor removal. Third nerve palsy improved immediately after the operation. DW imaging is a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of pituitary abscesses to exclude other parasellar pathologies. |
| Key Words:
Abscess, MRI, Pituitary, Trans-sphenoidal surgery |
|
PDF Links
Download Citation
