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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Sinonasal inverted papilloma mimicking a pituitary macroadenoma
Yagnesh Balasubramani1, Simon Ellul, Anthony Kam
1Department of Neurosurgery, The Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Prahran, Victoria, 3004, Australia. yagneshvb@yahoo.com
Abstract:
We report the rare entity of an inverted papilloma arising from the sphenoid sinus that we expected to be a pituitary tumour on the basis of history, examination and pre-operative investigations, especially MRI appearance. Inverted sinonasal papilloma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pituitary macroadenoma invading the sphenoid sinus.
Insights
A rare inverted papilloma in the sphenoid sinus mimicked a pituitary tumor. This finding highlights the importance of considering sinonasal inverted papilloma in pituitary tumor differentials.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurosurgery
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Pituitary tumors are common space-occupying lesions in the sellar region.
- Inverted papillomas are typically found in the sinonasal tract, rarely involving the sphenoid sinus.
Observation:
- A case is presented where a sphenoid sinus lesion was initially suspected to be a pituitary tumor based on clinical presentation and imaging.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were particularly suggestive of a pituitary macroadenoma.
Findings:
- Histopathological examination revealed the lesion to be an inverted papilloma, not a pituitary tumor.
- This represents a rare occurrence of inverted papilloma originating in the sphenoid sinus.
Implications:
- Inverted sinonasal papilloma should be included in the differential diagnosis for sellar/sphenoid sinus masses.
- This challenges typical diagnostic pathways for pituitary region tumors and emphasizes comprehensive sinonasal evaluation.
