Abstract
Xanthogranuloma (cholesterol granuloma) in the sellar region was traditionally regarded as a hallmark of craniopharyngioma, but it can be associated with other lesion including pituitary adenomas. In adenomas, xanthogranulomas may develop in large tumors, probably following hemorrhagic processes, and patients present with various degrees of pituitary insufficiencies. On MRI, xanthogranulomas typically exhibit mixed signal intensities with heterogeneous gadolinium enhancement, reflecting their complex histological features. The most characteristic finding is cholesterol clefts that show T1-high and T2-low signal intensities. Fine evaluation of MRI findings is required for the accurate diagnosis and the appropriate surgical intervention that may improve pituitary function.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abla AA, Wilson DA, Eschbacher JM, Spetzler RF (2010) Neurosurgical biopsy as the initial diagnosis of xanthogranuloma of the Erdheim-Chester disease variety of the infundibulum and optic apparatus: letter to the editor. Acta Neurochir 152:925–927
Burt MG, Morey AL, Turner JJ, Pell M, Sheehy JP, Ho KKY (2003) Xanthomatous pituitary lesions: a report of two cases and review of the literature. Pituitary 6:161–168
Janzer RC, Burger PC, Giangaspero F, Paulus W (2000) In: Kleihues P, Cavenee WK (eds) Pathology & genetics. Tumours of the nervous system. IARC Press, Lyon, pp 244–246
Jung CS, Schanzer A, Hattingen E, Plate KH, Seifert V (2006) Xanthogranuloma of the sellar region. Acta Neurochir 148:473–477
Murakami M, Nishioka H, Izawa H, Ikeda Y, Haraoka J (2008) Granulomatous hypophysitis associated with Rathke’s cleft cyst: a case report. Minim Inv Neurosurg 51:169–172
Nishioka H, Haraoka J, Izawa H, Ikeda Y (2006) Magnetic resonance imaging, clinical manifestations, and management of Rathke’s cleft cyst. Clin Endocrinol 64:184–188
Nishioka H, Shibuya M, Ohtsuka K, Ikeda Y, Haraoka J (2010) Endocrinlogical and MRI features of pituitary adenomas with marked xanthogranulomatous reaction. Neuroradiology 52:997–1002
Paulus W, Honegger J, Keyvani K, Fahlbusch R (1999) Xanthogranuloma of the sellar region: a clinicopathological entity different from adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. Acta Neuropathol 97:377–382
Sugata S, Hirano H, Yatsushiro K, Yunoue S, Nakamura K, Arita K (2009) Xanthogranuloma in the suprasellar region: case report. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 49:124–127
Tashiro T, Sano T, Xu B, Wakatsuki S, Kagawa N, Nishioka H, Yamada S, Kovacs K (2002) Spectrum of different type of hypophysitis: a clinicopathologic study of hypophysitis in 31 cases. Endocr Pathol 18:183–195
Yokoyama S, Sano T, Tajitsu K, Kusumoto K (2004) Xanthogranulomatous hypophysitis mimicking a pituitary neoplasm. Endocr Pathol 15:351–358
Yonezawa K, Shirataki K, Sakagami Y, Kohmura E (2003) Panhypopituitarism induced by cholesterol granuloma in the sellar region: case report. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 43:259–262
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Nishioka, H., Shibuya, M. (2013). Xanthogranulomas Associated with Pituitary Adenomas: Magnetic Resonance Imaging. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Tumors of the Central Nervous System, Volume 10. Tumors of the Central Nervous System, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5681-6_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5681-6_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-5680-9
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-5681-6
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)