Computerized tomography of a sellar spine. Case report

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Neuroradiology
• Anatomical Variants

Background:

• Pituitary adenomas are common intracranial tumors often evaluated with imaging.
• Dorsum sellae anomalies are rare but can present diagnostic challenges.
• Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate patient management.

Observation:

• A patient evaluated for a suspected pituitary adenoma presented with an unusual finding on initial CT.
• The initial scan suggested a suprasellar mass, a common presentation for pituitary adenomas.
• High-resolution CT revealed the 'mass' to be the pituitary gland itself.

Findings:

• The pituitary gland was deformed and displaced superiorly.
• An osseous spine projecting from the dorsum sellae was identified as the cause.
• This represents a presumed developmental variant of the dorsum sellae.

Implications:

• Neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists must recognize this variant to avoid misdiagnosis.
• Awareness of this anomaly improves diagnostic accuracy in pituitary region evaluations.
• Distinguishing this variant from a true pituitary adenoma is critical for treatment planning.