Management of a Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Macroadenoma Associated With Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension and an Empty Sella

Hunter J King; Evan Luther; Alexis A Morell; Michael Ivan; Ricardo J Komotar

doi:10.7759/cureus.34471

Management of a Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Macroadenoma Associated With Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension and an Empty Sella

Cureus. 2023 Jan 31;15(1):e34471. doi: 10.7759/cureus.34471. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Authors

Hunter J King¹, Evan Luther², Alexis A Morell², Michael Ivan², Ricardo J Komotar²

Affiliations

¹ Neurosurgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
² Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.

Abstract

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a -condition associated with elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) and frequently presents with headaches, papilledema, and visual loss. Rarely, IIH has been reported in association with acromegaly. Although removal of the tumor may reverse this process, elevated ICP, especially in the setting of an otherwise empty sella, may result in a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak that is exceedingly difficult to manage. We present the first case of a patient with a functional pituitary adenoma causing acromegaly associated with IIH and an otherwise empty sella and discuss our management paradigm for this rare condition.

Keywords: acromegaly; csf leak; empty sella turcica; idiopathic intracranial hypertension (iih); pituitary adenoma.

Publication types

Case Reports