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Case Reports
. 2010 Dec 13:1:79.
doi: 10.4103/2152-7806.73802.

Pituicytoma

Rafael Augusto Castro Santiago Brandão  1 , Moises Heleno Vieira Braga, Atos Alves de Souza, Baltazar Leão Reis, Franklin Bernardes Faraj de Lima
Affiliations
Case Reports

Pituicytoma

Rafael Augusto Castro Santiago Brandão et al. Surg Neurol Int. .

Abstract

Background: Pituicytomas originate from pituicytes, modified glial cells derived from ependymal lineage that are found in the stalk and posterior lobe of pituitary gland. The clinical presentation is similar to other pituitary tumors and imaging exams may suggest pituitary adenoma. The diagnostic is based on histopathological analysis. Surgical treatment can be performed by transsphenoidal approach with good results. The prognostic is good after total tumor resection.

Case description: We describe here the case of a 17-year-old patient with a history of persistent headache and visual disturbances. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an enhancing solid sellar mass suggestive of pituitary adenoma. The intrasellar mass was resected through a transsphenoidal approach and the diagnosis of pituicytoma was made after histopathological analysis.

Conclusion: Pituicytomas are rare tumors of the neurohypophysis derived from pituicytes. Their clinical presentation resembles that of non-functional pituitary adenomas, but these two types of tumors are histologically well distinct.

Keywords: Glioma; hypophysis; neurohypophyseal tumor; pituicytes; pituicytoma; pituitary gland; pituitary tumors.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Preoperative MRI.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Microscopic view showing a fusocellular tumor consisting of pleomorphic cells with a fascicular growth pattern. (B) Cells with eosinophilic citoplasm and clearly visible nucleoli. (C) Immunohistochemical reaction with S-100 protein.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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