Reversible hypopituitarism with pituitary tuberculoma

Intern Med. 2015;54(10):1247-51. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.54.3435. Epub 2015 May 15.

Abstract

A 50-year-old woman presented with a headache and nausea. A sellar and suprasellar mass was detected on MRI; the tumor was heterogeneously enhanced with gadolinium, and the pituitary stalk was slightly thickened. Laboratory tests revealed severe growth hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone deficiencies. A pathological examination of the tumor showed scattered granulomas with central necrosis and Langhans giant cells. Tuberculin skin and QuantiFERON TB-Gold tests (QFT-2G) were positive. Accordingly, we diagnosed the patient with pituitary tuberculoma presenting with pituitary dysfunction. Following treatment with antituberculous drugs, the pituitary hormone function normalized and the pituitary tuberculoma disappeared.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hypopituitarism / etiology*
  • Luteinizing Hormone / physiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Pituitary Diseases / complications*
  • Pituitary Diseases / pathology*
  • Pituitary Gland / pathology
  • Tuberculoma / complications*
  • Tuberculoma / drug therapy
  • Tuberculoma / pathology*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone