Xanthogranuloma of the sellar region. A case report

Abstract

Xanthogranuloma of the sellar region is a rare tumor. We describe a 41-year-old man complaining of several years of headache and passing out. Physical examination revealed absence of pubic and axillary hair while laboratory analysis showed panhypopituitarism. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a partially calcified slightly enhancing intrasellar mass with suprasellar extension which was slightly hyperintense on T1 images and hypointense on T2 images. Complete resection of the tumor mass using trans-sphenoidal approach was performed. On histopathologic analysis, there was a combination of fibrous scar tissue with chronic inflammation, highlighted by CD45 immunostaining, and extensively calcified necrotic debris, including cholesterol crystals consistent with a diagnosis of xanthogranuloma.