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Intrasellar pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma: case report
Kazunori Arita1, Kaoru Kurisu, Atsushi Tominaga
1Department of Neurosurgery, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan. karita@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Objective And Importance:
A patient with a primary intrasellar pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma is described.
Clinical Presentation:
A 78-year-old woman experienced slowly progressing bilateral visual disturbance. Analysis of magnetic resonance imaging scans indicated a well-enhanced tumor occupying intra- and suprasellar spaces with displacement of the pituitary gland anteriorly.
Intervention:
Partial resection of the tumor via the transsphenoidal route brought about improvement of the patient's visual disturbance. The tumor was conspicuously pleomorphic and composed of plump to spindle-shaped large and bizarre cells with single or multiple nuclei and lipid-laden foamy cytoplasm. The neoplastic cells were positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein, S-100 protein, and vimentin. The MIB-1 antibody labeling index was very low (<1%)
Conclusion:
Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of tumors arising in the posterior hypophysis.