Necrotizing infundibulo-hypophysitis: an entity too rare to be true?

Pituitary. 2012 Jun;15(2):202-8. doi: 10.1007/s11102-011-0307-2.

Abstract

We report a young woman with sudden and severe retroorbital headache, neck pain, and a large sellar mass extending to the suprasellar cistern. A presumptive diagnosis of non-secreting pituitary macroadenoma undergoing apoplexy was made and transphenoidal surgery performed. Histopathology revealed mononuclear infiltration and marked non-hemorrhagic necrosis of the anterior pituitary consistent with a diagnosis of necrotizing infundibulo-hypophysitis. The possible pathogenesis of this rare variant of hypophysitis is discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Necrosis / diagnosis*
  • Pituitary Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Pituitary Gland, Posterior / pathology