PITUITARY ABSCESS
SEMPLE P., DE VILLIERS J.G.
Department of Neurosurgery, Groote Schuur Hospital- Cape Town
South Africa
Code Number:NS97005
SUMMARY
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Pituitary abscess is a rare disease that
remains very difficult to diagnose preoperatively even with newer
imaging techniques such as CT - and MRI scanning. We describe four
cases, of which only one was diagnosed pre-operatively.
Pituitary abscess may present as meningitis in a patient with enlarged
sella on skull x-rays. More commonly it is indistinguishable from a
pituitary tumour both clinically and radiologically and the diagnosis
comes as a surprise at surgery. Treatment is by
transsphenoidal drainage, appropriate antibiotic and
replacement therapy as indicated.
RESUME
Les abces hypophysaires sont rares et
demeurent tres difficile a diagnostiquer en pre-operatoire,
malgre les nouvelles techniques d'imagerie medicale comme le scanner
et l'IRM. Nous avons decrit 4 cas parmi lesquels 1 seul a ete
diagnostique en pre-operatoire. Les abces hypophysaires peuvent
avoir les memes signes cliniques qu'une meningite chez les
patients ayant une selle turcique elargie a la radiographic cranienne.
Il est generalement tres difficile de differeneier a l'examert
clinique et radiologique, les abees des tumeurs hypophysaires.
Le diagnostic est souvent pose au cours de l'intervention
chirurgieale. Le traitement consiste en un drainage
transsphenoidal, une antibiotherapie appropriee, et une
therapeutique de substitution selon le besoin.
Key words: Pituitary abscess, pituitary
infection, transsphenoidal drainage.
Copyright 1997 Pan African Association of Neurological Sciences