Characteristics of inflammatory and infectious diseases of the pituitary gland in patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery
Authors' conclusion
In conclusion, correct preoperative diagnosis of IIPD remains challenging, as neither radiographic findings nor preoperative laboratory workup unequivocally identify these lesions. Surgical treatment facilitates decompression of supra- and parasellar structures. Furthermore, this low-morbidity procedure enables the identification of pathogens or inflammatory diseases requiring targeted medical treatment, which is crucial for these patients. Establishing a correct diagnosis through surgery and histopathological confirmation thus remains of utmost importance.
Study context
- Population
- Patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery at one institution, March 2003–January 202326 IIPD cases
- Participants
- 1,317 patients
- Exposure
- IIPD vs nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas
- IIPDn = 26
- Outcome
- Histopathology of IIPD
Methodological detailssingle-centre, matched control group (age, sex, tumor volume)
- Single-centre
- Matched control group (age, sex, tumor volume)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Septic infection
- 10 cases
- Septic: bacteria
- 3/10
- Septic: fungi
- 2/10
- Aseptic: lymphocytic hypophysitis
- 8/26
- Aseptic: granulomatous inflammation
- 3/26
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Septic infection: causative organisms
- Septic infection confirmed by pathology
- 10 cases
- Bacteria
- 3/10
- Fungi
- 2/10
Aseptic IIPD: histological diagnoses
- Lymphocytic hypophysitis
- 8/26
- Granulomatous inflammation
- 3/26
Preoperative radiographic findings (cystic/solid tumor mass, contrast enhancement)
- Did not significantly differ between IIPD and adenomas
Surgical mortality
- No surgical mortality occurred
Permanent hormone substitution · follow-up
- Patients requiring permanent hormone substitution
- 13 patients
Original publication
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