Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T01:25:10.349Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Pituitary adenomas with infra-sellar extension into the nasopharynx

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Benoit Godey*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Rennes University Hospital, Pontchaillou, France.
Xavier Morandi
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Neurosurgery, Rennes University Hospital, Pontchaillou, France.
François Le Gall
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Histopathology, Rennes University Hospital, Pontchaillou, France.
Stephane Feat
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Rennes University Hospital, Pontchaillou, France.
Gilles Brassier
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Neurosurgery, Rennes University Hospital, Pontchaillou, France.
Guy Le Clech
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Rennes University Hospital, Pontchaillou, France.
*
Address for correspondence: Benoit Godey, M.D., service ORL, CHU de Rennes, 2 rue Henri le Guillou, 35033 Rennes Cedex 9, France. Fax: 02.99.28.41.94 e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Three cases of pituitary adenomas with infra-sellar extension into the nasopharynx and the nasal cavities are reported. The clinical signs were epistaxis, nasal obstruction, painful sinuses and purulent rhinorrhoea. The initial diagnostic hypothesis was that of a carcinoma of the nasopharynx or the sinuses in all three cases. The diagnosis was made by histological examination and measurement of plasma hormone levels. These cases highlight the difficulty in the diagnosis of such tumours due to their misleading clinical, radiological and histological features.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anand, V. K., Osborne, M., Harkey, H. L. (1993) Infiltrative clival pituitary adenoma of ectopic origin. Ototaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery 108: 178183.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cook, R. J., Uttley, D., Wilkins, P.R., Archer, D. J., Bell, B. A. (1994) Prolactinomas in men masquerading as invasive skull base tumours. British Journal of Neurosurgery 8: 5155.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dent, J. A., Rickhuss, P. K. (1989) Invasive pituitary adenoma presenting with nasal obstruction. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 103: 605609.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Henderson, W. R. (1939) The pituitary adenomata. A follow- up study of the surgical results in 338 cases. (Dr Harvey Cusching's Series). British Journal of Surgery 26: 811921.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hori, A. (1985) Suprasellar peri-infundibular ectopic adenohypophysis in fetal and adult brains. Journal of Neurosurgery 63: 113–1115.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Iwai, Y., Hakuba, A., Klosla, V. (1992) Giant basal prolactinoma extending into nasal cavity. Surgical Neurology 37: 280283.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kikuchi, K., Kowada, M., Sasaki, J., Sagheshima, M. (1994) Large pituitary adenoma of the sphenoid sinus and the nasopharynx. Report of a case with ultrastructural evaluations. Surgical Neurology 42: 330334.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Langford, L., Batsakis, J. G. (1995) Pituitary gland involvement of the sinonasal tract. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 104: 167169.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Luk, I. S., Chan, J. K., Chow, S. M., Leung, S. (1996) Pituitary adenoma presenting as sinonasal tumour: pitfalls in diagnosis. Human Pathology 27: 605609.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pia, H. W., Grote, E., Hildebrandt, G. (1985) Giant pituitary adenomas. Neurosurgical Review 8: 207220.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ravichandran, T. P., Bakshi, R., Heffner, R. R., Gibbons, K. J., Bates, V. E., Durante, D. J., Kinkel, W. R. (1999) Aggressive giant pituitary adenoma presenting as nasopharyngeal mass. Magnetic pathologic findings. Journal of Neurooncology 41: 7175.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scheithauer, B. W., Koracs, K. T., Laws, E. R., Randall, R. V. (1986) Pathology of invasive pituitary tumours with special reference to functional classification. Journal of Neurosurgery 65: 733744.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van der Lely, A. J., Knegt, P. P. M., Stefanko, S. Z., Tanghe, H. L. J., Singh, R., Lamberts, S. W. J. (1992) Nasopharyngeal presentation of pituitary tumours. Differential diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 74: 811813.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van der Mey, A. G. L., Van Seters, A. P., Van Krieken, J. H. J. M., Vielvoye, J., Dulken, H. V., Hulshof, J. H. (1989) Large pituitary adenomas with extension into the nasopharynx. Report of three cases and a review of the literature. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 98: 618624.CrossRefGoogle Scholar