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Case report
Pituitary infundibular epidermoid cyst: a rare cause of hypopituitarism
  1. Sajjad Ahmad1,
  2. Ashutosh Surya1,
  3. Caroline Hayhurst2 and
  4. Stephen Davies3
  1. 1Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Cardiff, UK
  2. 2Division of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Cardiff, UK
  3. 3Department of Endocrinology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Sajjad Ahmad; drsajjad618{at}yahoo.com

Abstract

A 53-year-old man presented with 6 months history of weight loss associated with nausea, fatigue, dizziness and headache. On arrival he was in adrenal crisis. Biochemistry revealed anterior hypopituitarism with low cortisol, thyroxine, testosterone and a slightly raised prolactin. He was commenced on steroids, thyroxine and testosterone. MRI pituitary gland was reported to have a 9.4 mm microadenoma. Cabergoline was started for a possible microprolactinoma. Follow-up MRI showed increase in the size of complex cystic lesion causing chiasmal compression raising a possibility of craniopharyngioma. Visual fields assessment was normal. In view of the rapid enlargement, to protect vision and obtain a tissue diagnosis he underwent endoscopic trans-sphenoidal surgery. A cystic lesion was noted intraoperatively originating from pituitary stalk with intrasellar and suprasellar extension. It was filled with white caseous material and fluid. Histology revealed epidermoid cyst. His headache resolved postoperatively.

  • endocrine system
  • pituitary disorders
  • radiology

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2020-241065

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors Dr SA wrote full case report and discussion along with references. AS helped in writing case report, and obtained patient’s consent. CH, the responsible neurosurgeon, critically reviewed and approved the final version of the abstract and provided pituitary images. SD approved the final version of the abstract.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.