[Incidental findings of expansive processes in the sellar region]

The technologic advancement of imaging techniques especially computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MRI) is associated with an increasing number of incidentally discovered sellar masses. The endocrinologists are facing the problem to distinguish between benign and clinically often insignificant non-functioning pituitary adenomas (pituitary incidentalomas) and other pituitary or sellar and parasellar masses, which require further therapy. This paper gives an overview about different types of pituitary or sellar and parasellar masses, their aetiology and basic symptoms arising from either endocrine disturbances or as a result of mass effect of an enlarging tissue. Further, the paper shortly characterises most common pituitary and non-pituitary sellar masses that are necessary to distinguish. Finally, the basic diagnostic approach to the patients with sellar and parasellar masses is described.