Clinical analysis of infarction in pituitary adenoma

This study is to summarize the clinical manifestations, imaging findings, treatment and prognosis of pituitary apoplexy caused by ischemic infarction.

From January 2010 to March 2014, 412 patients with pituitary adenoma were admitted in the Department of Neurosurgery at Fuzhou General Hospital, with 9 cases being diagnosed with ischemic infarction stroke. Imaging examinations were performed, including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Pituitary adenomas were evaluated according to suprasellar, infrasellar, parasellar, anterior and posterior classification. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining were used for identifying pituitary adenoma.

Tumor height was 1.3-3.3 cm, with an average of 2.27 cm. Eight patients had typical clinical stroke symptoms. Preoperatively, high blood growth hormone concentration was presented in 6 cases, full hypopituitarism in 2 cases, dysfunction of corticosteroids and gonads in 4 cases, and single gonadal dysfunction in 2 cases. Ring enhancement was presented in 8 cases on constructed computed tomography or magnetic resonance images, and sellar settlement in 7 cases. Eight patients were conducted with transsphenoidal resection, and secondary transsphenoidal after craniotomy in 1 case. During surgery, poor tumor blood supply was found in 7 cases, cheese-like or tofu-like necrotic tissues in 5 cases, and few dark blood clots in 2 cases.

Pituitary ischemic infarction stroke is clinically rare, but can be correctly diagnosed before surgery by imaging examinations. The pathological characteristics of the tumor are necrosis and fibrosis, which are easy for resection. Therefore, pituitary adenoma usually has good prognosis.