Lymphocytic hypophysitis in the elderly

We report a 73-year-old woman with lymphocytic hypophysitis who presented with atypical clinical features and what appeared to be pituitary apoplexy on radiological analysis. Lymphocytic hypophysitis is a rare cause of pituitary dysfunction, and is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. It typically affects young peri-partum women, with clinical features that are related to pituitary hypofunction, and an uncertain natural history. It is difficult to radiologically differentiate lymphocytic hypophysitis from pituitary macroadenoma, therefore, the gold standard of diagnosis remains histological. It is rarely reported in the elderly (> 70 years old), however, given its unpredictable clinical course it remains an important differential diagnosis in patients of this age group who present with features suggestive of pituitary dysfunction.