ECTOPIC PROLACTINOMA IN THE CLIVUS

Background: Ectopic pituitary adenomas are rare. Only 29 cases are rep orted in the literature. The clivus was involved in some cases but sel la turcica was occasionally involved. Clinical Presentation: Headache was the first symptom of a 47-year-old woman. Radiological examination diagnosed a clivus tumour. No connection with the pituitary gland was observed. Pre-operative diagnosis was metastasis of an unknown cancer . Intervention: By a transphenoidal approach, we removed a haemorrhagi c tumour. No connection between the normal pituitary gland and the tum our was observed. Neuropathological analysis showed a prolactinoma. Co nclusion: We report a rare case of an ectopic prolactinoma in the cliv us unrelated to the pituitary gland. Only one other case has been repo rted in the literature.