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Updated: May 31, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Ectopic pituitary adenoma associated with an empty sella: a case report and review of the literature
Yoshikazu Kusano1, Tetsuyoshi Horiuchi, Fusakazu Oya
1Department of Neurosurgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan. yokusano@shinshu-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
A case of ectopic pituitary adenoma in the sphenoid sinus associated with an empty sella is reported. The coexistence of an ectopic pituitary adenoma and an empty sella is quite rare. The diagnosis was made with an intraoperative finding of the intact dura mater of the sellar floor. In the present case, the hypointense line that coated the pituitary gland was clearly demonstrated on 3-tesla T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. The hypointense line is considered to be the pituitary capsule and was critical in diagnosing this rare entity.
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