A Case of Symptomatic Granular Cell Tumor of the Pituitary Treated with Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Granular cell tumors (GCT) of the pituitary are rare. Surgery is considered the primary management option. However, complete resection is often difficult, and surgery is associated with high rates of postoperative complications.

To report a unique case of pituitary GCT treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

We report a case of a 40-year-old female with endocrine dysfunction who underwent stereotactic biopsy and then SRS for the management of a suprasellar granular cell tumor. Over the ensuing 10 years, tumor regression was observed. Thirteen years after SRS, the patient remained asymptomatic; however, follow-up MRI demonstrated tumor progression. Fifteen years after SRS, the patient required endoscopic endonasal surgery after developing a new optic neuropathy. Her images demonstrated further tumor growth beyond the targeted area.

SRS resulted in long-term tumor control without additional endocrine dysfunction, but the onset of new optic neuropathy associated with delayed tumor growth prompted surgical decompression.