Pituitary abscess: a case report

OBJECTIVES: Pituitary abscess is rare disease and the correct diagnosis is difficult because there are non-specific symptoms and it is often radiologically indistinguishable from other pituitary lesions. CASE PRESENTENTION: We present one case of pituitary abscess that constitute 0.15% of all pituitary adenomas operated in our department in the 20 years. A 49-year-old woman presented with a history of 10 months bifrontal headache. The MRI showed cystic intra- and suprasellar mass with ring enhancement after contrast injection. During transsphenoidal surgery, copious yellowish pus was found. Antibiotic therapy was performed. Histological study of the cyst wall confirmed the diagnosis of pituitary abscess. CONCLUSION: Pituitary abscess should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all other cyst mass in patients with diabetes insipidus.