Open AccessCombined granulomatous and lymphocytic hypophysitis presenting as pituitary incidentaloma in a middle-aged woman
Author(s) -
Abhay Gundgurthi,
Simmi Kharb,
MK Garg,
K. S. Brar,
Reena Bharwaj,
Srishti Gupta,
Harish Pathak
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.456
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2230-9500
pISSN - 2230-8210
DOI - 10.4103/2230-8210.100680
Subject(s) - hypophysitis , medicine , pituitary gland , radiology , hypopituitarism , granuloma , surgery , pathology , hormone
We report a case of 41-year-old lady who presented with chronic headache of 6-month duration and a sellar mass with a suprasellar extension on imaging, which was interpreted as pituitary macroadenoma. She had normal pituitary function and visual perimetry. On clinical examination and imaging it was provisionally diagnosed as pituitary incidentaloma due to hypophysitis and she was advised steroid therapy, but underwent transnasal resection of the tumor against suggestion. Histopathological examination revealed combined granulomatous and lymphocytic hypophysitis most likely of autoimmune in origin. Definitive diagnosis of hypophysitis can be made only on histopathological examination. As most cases of autoimmune hypophysitis are surgically treated, patients should be assessed on individual basis for requirement of steroids in postoperative period.