MR-IMAGING AND CT OF PITUITARY ABSCESS - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW

Pituitary abscess is a rare disorder. However, preoperative diagnosis is important to prevent a cranial approach leading to severe meningiti s. A case of a 55 year-old woman with pituitary abcess is reported. Th e patient was admitted with a several-week history of frontal headache and no signs of inflammation. Computed tomographic (CT) scan showed a slightly low-density suprasellar expanding mass lesion with an enhanc ed thin wall in the pituitary region. Magnetic resonance imaging showe d a homogenous high-intensity signal relative to brain parenchyma on T 1-weighted images with an enhanced thin wall and a homogenous low-inte nsity signal on T2-weighted images. This was histologically shown to b e a pituitary abscess. Our case and review of the available literature suggest that pituitary abscess generally shows a homogenous low-densi ty on CT scan and a homogenous low- to iso- and high-intensity signals or homogenous high- and low-intensity signals on T1- and T2-weighted images, respectively, with a cystic appearance and enhanced smooth wal l.