ULTRASONIC BRUITS IN THE CIRCLE OF WILLIS DUE TO A LARGE NONFUNCTIONING PITUITARY-ADENOMA

In a man with a histologically verified nonfunctioning pituitary adeno ma with suprasellar extension, Doppler signals resembled those associa ted with bruits (ultrasonic bruits). These signals were detected in th e anterior circulation of Willis both preoperatively and intraoperativ ely. The large tumor was resected subtotally via a right orbitozygomat ic approach. The use of microvascular sonography for intraoperative mo nitoring can provide information on the potential cerebrovascular comp lications of surgery. No previous studies on the presence of ultrasoni c bruits associated with pituitary adenomas have been reported. The cl inical implications for the surgical treatment of pituitary adenomas a re discussed.