Spontaneous regression of nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenoma: A case report

• Main Authors: Koki Kameno, Shigetoshi Yano, Naoki Shinojima, Jun-ichi Kuratsu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2016-09-01
• Series: Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery
• Subjects: Pituitary adenoma; Regression; Nonfunctioning; Apoplexy
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214751916300251

A case involving a 13-year-old girl with nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenoma is discussed. The patient visited the hospital for checkup after experiencing a head injury secondary to syncope. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a pituitary mass with mildly higher density. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast enhancement showed that the mass contained a hyperintense area and it elevated the optic chiasm. The patient had blurred vision in her right eye. No endocrinological abnormalities were found. When the patient was admitted for surgical removal of the mass 1 month later, her visual acuity had improved. A repeat MRI showed that the size of the pituitary mass had dramatically reduced. During the following 2 years, the mass showed further reduction in size and did not re-grow. Since symptoms of pituitary apoplexy were not observed, we believe that asymptomatic apoplexy occurring at the time of the first visit may have caused regression of the tumor.