Intrasellar abscess

A case of intrasellar abscess in a 31-year-old male, with pituitary insufficiency, visual field and acuity disturbances, is reported. In the pus extracted at surgery E. coli and Staphylococcus haemolyticus were identified. The patient died 20 days after the operation. Necropsy revealed the fibrous capsule of an abscess in the hypophyseal region and putriform tissue at the level of the hypothalamus, with three small tumours one of which proved to be a craniopharyngioma.