Primary aspergillosis of the sphenoid sinus with pituitary invasion – a rare differential diagnosis of sellar lesions

Summary

Aspergillosis belongs to the group of mycotic diseases of paranasal sinuses. The invasive forms, and particularly the fulminant forms, are potentially fatal. Isolated aspergillosis of the sphenoid sinus or the clivus is a difficult diagnosis, since the often misleading clinical manifestations of this rare disease develop late. These patients become apparent by neurological signs such as cavernous sinus syndrome, pseudotumor of the pituitary or the orbit. Diagnosis is often made intra-operatively or on histological examination.

We report a case of invasive aspergillosis uniquely involving the sellar area revealed by clinical features suggesting a pseudotumor of the pituitary. Although such lesions are almost always seen in immune suppressed subjects, in our case, the patient was immune competent and had no past history of sinusitis.

The question of whether, and when to perform limited or extensive surgery remains an issue for discussion, owing to the rarity of this disease honed by lack of experience. It depends on several factors: the kind of disease, the immunity, the subtype of invasive fungal sinusitis and the degree of tissue invasion.