Sellar Lesions/Pathology

Abstract

The sellar region is a tiny anatomic compartment in which many lesions and developmental diseases can be found. If pituitary adenomas represent most of the sellar mass, it is important to recognize other pathologic conditions before any surgical procedure, because the optimal treatment may differ considerably from one lesion to another. A careful clinical evaluation followed by neuroimaging studies and an endocrinologic and ophtalmologic workup will lead, in most cases, to a diagnosis with near certainty. This article provides an overview of sellar diseases with emphasis on their most useful characteristics for clinical practice.

Keywords: Craniopharyngiomas; Meningiomas; Pituitary adenomas; Pituitary tumors; Rathke's cleft cysts; Sellar lesions.