Ectopic Intrasphenoidal Growth Hormone Releasing Pituitary Adenoma Associated with an Intracranial Aneurysm

Pituitary adenomas are a type of of the most frequent intracranial tumors. These tumors can extend outside the sella, but very rarely originate ectopically to the sellar region. A 71-year-old patient presented to our institution, with prior clinical history of noncontrolled arterial hypertension and new-onset high-intensity pulsatile headache. Upon suspicion of a hypertensive emergency with probable brain compromise, a nonenhanced computed tomography of the head was performed. A mass within the sphenoid sinus was found. Endocrinological workup demonstrated a significant elevation of the growth hormone. As an incidental finding, a brain aneurysm was evidenced, which was treated endovascularly prior to the mass treatment. Subsequently, the patient successfully underwent a gross total resection through an endonasal transsphenoidal approach. Histopathological results were consistent with a pituitary ectopic adenoma. A postoperative improvement in levels of somatomedin C was documented postoperatively.