[Diagnostic difficulties in scanty symptomatic pituitary tumor]

Adenomas are the most frequent pituitary tumours and constitute up to 8% of intracranial tumors. They are divided according to size into microadenomas and macroadenomas, the latter are expanding suprasellary, and also infiltrate the base of the skull. Depending on histological staining, they are divided into neutrophilic, acidophilic and basophilic adenomas. Hormonally active adenomas are responsible for Cushing, Forbes and Albright diseases and acromegaly. Macroadenomas are responsible for chronic hypothalamo-pituitary axis insufficiency. Clinically, pituitary tumours produce local (headaches and vision deficiency) and general signs like hormonal disturbances. Diagnosis, localisation and size of pituitary tumours is made using radiological techniques. Treatment may consist of surgical (removing of the tumour and chiasma opticum decompression), pharmaco and radiotherapy. The case described illustrates the diagnosis of an oligosymptomatic pituitary tumour.