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Primary pituitary abscess followed by empty sella syndrome in an adolescent girl

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Abstract

Primary pituitary abscess is a rare pituitary pathology, particularly at a young age and is characterized by atypical clinical features making the diagnosis difficult. Correct diagnosis and therapy are mandatory due to the potentially lethal outcome of pituitary infection. We report the case of an adolescent girl presenting with headache, diabetes insipidus and central thyro-gonadic insufficiency with no history of infection, in whom the intra-operative diagnosis of primary pituitary abscess was made. Bacterial cultures indicated infection with Streptococcus spp. One year after neurosurgery and antibiotic therapy, recovery of diabetes insipidus and pituitary insufficiency was documented except for persistence of subnormal growth hormone secretion. Post-surgery, pituitary magnetic resonance imaging revealed an empty sella syndrome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Carmen Emanuela Pepene, Ioana Ilie & Ileana Duncea

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Dan Mihu

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Horaţiu Stan

  4. Department of Otorhinolaringology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Silviu Albu

Authors
  1. Carmen Emanuela Pepene
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  2. Ioana Ilie
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  3. Dan Mihu
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  4. Horaţiu Stan
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  5. Silviu Albu
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  6. Ileana Duncea
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Correspondence to Carmen Emanuela Pepene.

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Pepene, C.E., Ilie, I., Mihu, D. et al. Primary pituitary abscess followed by empty sella syndrome in an adolescent girl. Pituitary 13, 385–389 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-008-0150-2

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