Giant Prolactinoma Presenting As a Base of Skull Tumor With Nasopharyngeal Extension: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall in Neuroendocrine Lesions of the Base of Skull

Head Neck Pathol. 2017 Dec;11(4):537-540. doi: 10.1007/s12105-017-0782-5. Epub 2017 Feb 14.

Abstract

Pituitary adenomas presenting in uncommon anatomical locations are commonly misdiagnosed. Dramatic clinical presentation with hemorrhage and infarction, along with a lack of endocrine symptoms may further confound the diagnosis in some patients as illustrated in one of our two previously reported cases of non-small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the sinonasal tract and nasopharynx. This report presents the clinical progress of case number 2, which has a revised diagnosis of giant lactotroph pituitary adenoma. Common clinical, radiological and pathological pitfalls in diagnosis of neuroendocrine neoplasms of the sinonasal tract and base of skull are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / pathology
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prolactinoma / diagnosis*
  • Prolactinoma / pathology
  • Skull Base Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Skull Base Neoplasms / pathology