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A 34 year-old woman developed amenorrhea and headaches. Neurological examination revealed bitemporal hemianopsia. |
Pituitary Macroadenoma.
(Left) T1-weighted with gadolinium sagittal MRI; (Right)
T1-weighted with gadolinium coronal MRI. Note the large enhancing mass in the region of the sella
that is growing up into and displacing the optic chiasm and
hypothalamus. Surgical resection demonstrated a large pituitary
adenoma. By definition, pituitary macroadenomas are benign tumors
of the pituitary gland that are greater than 10 mm in diameter.
Similar to microadenomas, macroadenomas may come to medical
attention due to signs and symptoms of endocrine dysfunction from
excessive hormonal production. However, in contrast to microadenomas,
macroadenomas may result in reduced hormone production of some or all
of the pituitary hormones (panhypopituitarism) as the tumor grows and compresses the
normal pituitary tissue. Macroadenomas may also result in
focal neurological signs and symptoms due to mass effect as the tumor
grows outside of the sella and compresses the optic chiasm and
hypothalamus above. Lesions of the optic chiasm classically result
in a bitemporal hemianopsia. |
Revised
11/27/06.
Copyrighted 2006. David C Preston