• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권8호
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• pp.1033-1036
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• 2001

With improvements in diagnostic imaging techniques for the brain, pituitary tumors without neurological signs or symptoms have occasionally been found. To evaluate therapeutic strategy for incidentally found pituitary tumors ("pituitary incidentaloma"), we analyzed the result of magnetic resonance imaging findings and of ophthalmological and endocrinological studies in 3 cases with follow up. Incidentally found functioning tumors were excluded. All of 3 cases is greater than 10mm in tumor size("pituitary macroincidentaloma"). The follow-up period was 49 months, 16 months and 6 months(mean, 25.3 months) in each case. There was no evidence of tumor enlargement, endocrinological problems and visual field defect during follow-up period. Patients with pituitary incidentalomas usually follow a benign course and neurosurgical intervention is not initially required in the management even those greater than 10mm in diameter. Observation over time may be good approach to the patient with a pituitary macroincidentaloma to avoid the unnecessary risk for surgery in a patients with a stable mass.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.157-159
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• 2005

The authors present two cases of intrasellar schwannoma, a condition rarely reported in the literature. The patients presented with symptoms of hypopituitarism. Sellar magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) revealed intrasellar masses extending into the suprasellar region, with the normal pituitary gland also identifiable in the imaging study. The tumors were removed via trans-sphenoidal route, and found to be very firm, unlike usual pituitary adenomas. Tissue diagnosis confirmed the tumors as schwannoma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.20-24
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• 2005

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and advantages of an endoscopic endonasal approach for the treatment of pituitary tumors. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 31 patients with pituitary tumors having endoscopic endonasal surgery between March 1999 and August 2003. Results: Among 31 patients with pituitary adenomas, 25 (81%) patients exhibited gross total removal of tumor on postoperative MRI within 3 days after surgery. Among 6 patients removed subtotally, 2 had only radiosurgery, 3 have had periodic follow-up MRIs and one patient with large extended tumor (grade IV, Stage E) had secondary transcranial removal of tumor before radiosurgery. Postoperative complications included cerebrospinal fluid leak in 2 patients, sinusitis in 1 patient, and one patient died due to unexpected intracerebral hemorrhage on 5 days after surgery. Besides considerable experiences with this approach are needed because of narrow working channel to the sella turcica, the results of our study showed following advantages of this procedure: visualization of areas not seen with the operating microscope, elimination of oronasal complications, more functional and cosmetic outcome, and shortened operative time and hospital stay. Conclusion: The authors consider that endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach provides good results with minimal invasion for patients with pituitary tumors.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제62권1호
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• pp.114-122
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• 2019

Objective : Silent corticotroph adenomas (SCA) are endocrine-inactive pituitary adenomas with positive immunohistochemistry staining for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). We investigated whether SCA-associated clinical profiles were more aggressive than hormonally negative adenomas (HNA). Methods : Among 627 patients with pathologically proven endocrine-inactive pituitary adenomas between 2004 and 2013, positive immunohistochemistry revealed 55 SCAs and 411 HNAs. Surgical outcomes and radiological and endocrinological characteristics were compared. Results : Strong female predominance was observed in the SCA group (p<0.001). Cavernous sinus invasion was identified in 22 (40%) SCA patients and 72 (17.6%) HNA patients (p<0.001). There were no differences in ACTH or cortisol levels between the two groups. The incidence of preoperative hypopituitarism and postoperative hormonal outcome did not differ between two groups. Total resection was achieved in 35 patients (63.7%) with SCA and 332 patients (80.8%) with HNA (p=0.007). When tumors were completely removed, recurrence rates were not statistically different between two groups (p=0.60). When complete resection was not achieved, tumors regrew from these remnants in seven patients (35.0%) with SCA and 12 patients (15.2%) with HNA (p=0.05). Conclusion : Total surgical resection for SCA is often challenging as these tumors frequently invade a cavernous sinus. Early remnant tumor intervention is justified, because untreated residual pituitary tumors regrow when patients were followed up for a long time. Prophylactic radiotherapy is not warranted for completely resected SCAs as tumor recurrence is uncommon.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.355-359
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• 2009

Objective : The definition of empty sella syndrome is 'an anatomical entity in which the pituitary fossa is partially or completely filled with cerebrospinal fluid, while the pituitary gland is compressed against the posterior rim of the fossa'. Reports of this entities relating to the brain tumors not situated in the pituitary fossa, have rarely been reported. Methods : In order to analyze the incidence and relationship of empty sella in patients having brain tumors, the authors reviewed preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 72 patients with brain tumor regardless of pathology except the pituitary tumors. The patients were operated in single institute by one surgeon. There were 25 males and 47 females and mean patient age was 53 years old (range from 5 years to 84 years). Tumor volume was ranged from 2 cc to 238 cc. Results : The overall incidence of empty sella was positive in 57/72 cases (79.2%). Sorted by the pathology, empty sella was highest in meningioma (88.9%, p=0.042). The empty sella was correlated with patient's increasing age (p=0.003) and increasing tumor volume (p=0.016). Conclusion : Careful review of brain MRI with periodic follow up is necessary for the detection of secondary empty sella in patients with brain tumors. In patients with confirmed empty sella, follow up is mandatory for the management of hypopituitarism, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, visual disturbance and increased intracranial pressure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.724-728
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• 2001

Objectives : Pituitary apoplexy is a well-described clinical syndrome resulting from pituitary hemorrhage, hemorrhagic infarction, or infarction, almost invariably occurring in the presence of an adenoma. We analyzed pituitary apoplexy with an emphasis on clinical presentation, pathology and predisposing factors. Methods : We reviewed 35 histologically proven pituitary adenomas, operated from January 1995 to August 1999, to select 8 cases which showed clinical or operative findings compatible with pituitary apoplexy. These patients were analyzed in terms of symptom and sign, hormonal status, and predisposing factors, pathologic findings. Results : Among 35 surgically treated tumors of the pituitary gland, 8 cases(23%) were diagnosed as pituitary apoplexy. The pathologic findings revealed hemorrhage(7 cases) and infarction(1 case) of pituitary adenomas. One case had predisposing factor of appendectomy. The most common presenting symptom and sign were sudden severe headache and visual disturbance. Conclusion : We treated pituitary apoplexy surgically and obtained good outcomes. Pituitary apoplexy due to massive infarction of the pituitary gland is very rare condition but surgical treatment by trans-spheniodal surgery showed a good result.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.25-28
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• 2005

Objective: Giant invasive pituitary adenoma looks histologically benign, but these tumors have an aggressive clinical course. The authors review 10 cases and discuss the results obtained and the strategy to use for the management of giant invasive pituitary adenoma. Methods: Out of a series of 155 pituitary adenomas treated surgically between 1994 and 2002, ten patients with giant invasive pituitary adenoma were selected and their clinical problems, radiologic findings, extent and invasiveness, hormonal and histologic findings and surgical results were analyzed retrospectively. Results: There were 4 male and 6 female patients, with an average age of 47 years and an average follow-up period of 42 months. The average size of tumor was 50.7mm. These tumors revealed severe invasions into surrounding structures. 8 patients underwent transsphenoidal approach(TSA) operations, 1 patient with transcranial operation and 1 patient with combined TSA and transcranial operation. In all cases, subtotal resection was performed. The histologic findings were 2 prolactinomas and 3 hormonal non-function adenomas. The therapies administered after surgical removal consisted of conventional fractionated radiotherapy (2 patients), treatment with dopamine agonists to control hyperprolactinemia (2 patients), and treatment with hormone replacement (2 patients). Conclusion: Giant invasive pituitary adenomas are characterized by different forms of expansion and invasiveness and variable clinical problems. Because of their aggressive expansion and invasiveness, there are many different strategies which can be considered for their management. The authors obtain good results by choosing conservative surgical removal and multidisciplinary treatments with serial radiological and hormonal follow-up.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.94-97
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• 2012

Tumors that metastasize to the pituitary gland are unusual, and are typically seen in elderly patients with diffuse malignant disease. The most common metastases to the pituitary are from primary breast and lung cancers. We report a 65-year-old woman with pituitary metastasis from breast cancer who presented with recent-onset left progressive deterioration of visual acuity and visual field. The clinical diagnosis was made after brain and sellar magnetic resonance imaging showed a large sellar mass compressing the optic chiasm and invading the pituitary stalk. An otorhinolaryngology and neurosurgery team removed the tumor via a transsphenoidal approach, and this procedure obtained symptomatic relief. Postoperatively, metastasis from breast invasive ductal adenocarcinoma was confirmed histologically. We report this unusual case with a review of the relevant literature.

• 대한세포병리학회지
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.184-188
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• 1994

Therapeutic management of brain tumors is based on accurate knowledge of their size, location and histologic type. Stereotaxic cytology under CT guidance has been applied to the investigation of brain tumors, especially in the sellar turcica, third ventricle, and pineal regions. In the present case, the tumor protruded into the nasal cavity, so we were able to get cytologic material via fine needle aspiration. Although pituitary adenoma is not an unsual tumor, there have been few reports about its cytologic features. We present the cyotologic and histologic features of a case of pituitary adenoma with immunohistochemical study.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권7호
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• pp.925-927
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• 2001

Multiple intracranial tumors of different cell types are rare. We report a case of double primary intracranial tumors of different histologic types : oligodendroglioma, and pituitary adenoma. Von Recklinghausen's disease or other etiologic factors supposedly associated with multiple brain tumors were not recognized in this 36-year-old male patient.