Combined granulomatous and lymphocytic hypophysitis presenting as pituitary incidentaloma in a middle-aged woman

• Main Authors: Abhay Gundgurthi, Sandeep Kharb, M K Garg, K S Brar, Reena Bharwaj, Srishti Gupta, H C Pathak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2012-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Subjects: Granulomatous hypophysitis; incidentaloma; lymphocytic hypophysitis
• Online Access: http://www.ijem.in/article.asp?issn=2230-8210;year=2012;volume=16;issue=5;spage=846;epage=849;aulast=Gundgurthi

We report a case of 41-year-old lady who presented with chronic headache of 6-month duration and a sellar mass with a suprasellar extension on imaging, which was interpreted as pituitary macroadenoma. She had normal pituitary function and visual perimetry. On clinical examination and imaging it was provisionally diagnosed as pituitary incidentaloma due to hypophysitis and she was advised steroid therapy, but underwent transnasal resection of the tumor against suggestion. Histopathological examination revealed combined granulomatous and lymphocytic hypophysitis most likely of autoimmune in origin. Definitive diagnosis of hypophysitis can be made only on histopathological examination. As most cases of autoimmune hypophysitis are surgically treated, patients should be assessed on individual basis for requirement of steroids in postoperative period.