The incidentaloma of the pituitary gland: Is neurosurgery required

Journal Article · Wed May 23 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1990.03440200076026· OSTI ID:6037615

Reincke, M; Allolio, B; Saeger, W; Menzel, J; Winkelmann, W ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Cologne (West Germany)

The authors describe a series of 18 patients with an intrasellar mass incidentally discovered by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The average size of the mass was 13 mm, with a range from 5 to 25 mm. Initial ophthalmologic examination revealed bitemporal hemianopia in 2 patients. Results of routine endocrine testing showed partial hypopituitarism in 5 patients and growth hormone hypersecretion without signs and symptoms of acromegaly in 1 patient. Four patients underwent neurosurgery. Histologically, one chondroid chordoma and three pituitary adenomas were found. In the remaining 14 patients treated conservatively, repeated computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed no significant change in tumor size at the time of follow-up. The results suggest that the incidentaloma of the pituitary gland is a benign condition that does not necessarily require neurosurgical intervention.

• OSTI ID: 6037615
• Journal Information: JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association; (USA), Journal Name: JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association; (USA) Vol. 263:20; ISSN 0098-7484; ISSN JAMAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ACROMEGALY
ADENOMAS
BODY
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
ENDOCRINE DISEASES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
FSH
GLANDS
GONADOTROPINS
HORMONES
LH
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY GLAND
PITUITARY HORMONES
RESONANCE
TOMOGRAPHY