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Lymphocytic hypophysitis and infundibuloneurohypophysitis; clinical and pathological evaluations
1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Ankara University Medical School, Turkey.
Endocrine Journal
|December 2, 1999
Summary
Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LHy) and infundibuloneurohypophysitis (INHy) are rare inflammatory pituitary diseases. These conditions can mimic pituitary tumors and should be considered in sellar mass diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neurology
- Pathology
Background:
- Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LHy) and infundibuloneurohypophysitis (INHy) are inflammatory conditions affecting the pituitary gland and infundibulum.
- These rare diseases can present with diverse clinical symptoms and imaging findings, often mimicking pituitary adenomas.
Observation:
- This study details four cases (two female, two male, aged 27-38) of LHy and INHy, unrelated to pregnancy.
- Presenting symptoms included diabetes insipidus, panhypopituitarism, abducens paralysis, headache, and hyperprolactinemia.
- MRI revealed sellar masses, infundibular enlargement, or thickened pituitary stalks.
Findings:
- Pathological and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed lymphocytic infiltration in all cases.
- Surgical or biopsy interventions were performed, with hyperprolactinemia resolving post-surgery in two patients.
- One patient developed diabetes insipidus post-operatively.
Implications:
- LHy and INHy warrant consideration in the differential diagnosis of sellar region mass lesions.
- These inflammatory conditions are important in the etiopathogenesis of hyperprolactinemia, galactorrhea, and diabetes insipidus.
- Endoscopic endonasal biopsy offers a safe diagnostic approach for suspected cases.