Abstract
Pituitary abscess is a rare disease, but one with potentially high mortality and morbidity. We present a 46-year-old man with progressive visual disturbance and general malaise for 1 year. Endocrine studies revealed hypopituitarism, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a pituitary lesion with suprasellar extension. We attempted to excise the lesion using a transsphenoidal approach, but pus in the pituitary fossa was found at operation, and no tumour was identified. The culture yielded coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Antibiotics were administered for 3 weeks, and the patient made a good postoperative recovery. He required life-long hormone replacement therapy. After one and a half years of follow-up, he was well and had no evidence of focal or systemic infection. We review the literature regarding pituitary abscess and discuss the appropriate treatment and possible pathological mechanism.
MeSH terms
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
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Brain Abscess / diagnosis*
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Brain Abscess / drug therapy
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Brain Abscess / microbiology
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Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / diagnosis*
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Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
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Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / microbiology
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Hormone Replacement Therapy
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Humans
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Hypopituitarism / microbiology
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Hypopituitarism / physiopathology
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Hypopituitarism / therapy
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Neurosurgical Procedures
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Pituitary Diseases / diagnosis*
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Pituitary Diseases / drug therapy
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Pituitary Diseases / microbiology
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Pituitary Gland / microbiology*
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Pituitary Gland / pathology*
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Pituitary Gland / physiopathology
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Sella Turcica / microbiology
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Sella Turcica / pathology
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Sella Turcica / surgery
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Staphylococcal Infections / diagnosis*
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Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
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Treatment Outcome
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Vision Disorders / etiology
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Vision Disorders / pathology
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Vision Disorders / physiopathology