Aspergillosis of the sphenoid sinus simulating a pituitary tumor

Abstract

Sphenoidal aspergillosis is an unusual cause of sella turcica enlargement. Pituitary abscess secondary to Aspergillus had been reported. In the present case, a woman with sphenoid sinus aspergillosis mimicked a pituitary tumor. This patient survived her infection with intact pituitary function following a transsphenoidal approach. No postoperative amphotericine-B and 5-fluorocytosine were necessary. CT scan revealed a mass occupying the sphenoid sinus extending to the sella turcica. Factors that should alert the clinican to the presence of a sphenoidal and pituitary abscess in a patient with sella turcica enlargement are prior episodes of sinusitis, meningitis and immunosuppression and, as in the present case, hyperglycemia.

Pituitary aspergillosis in a kidney transplant recipient and review of the literature

“…Pituitary aspergillosis is an extremely rare presentation for Aspergillus infection and is often misdiagnosed as a pituitary tumor . To our knowledge, only 12 cases of pituitary aspergillosis have been reported, all summarized in Table , along with our present case (No. 1).…”

Pituitary aspergillosis presenting as macroadenoma: case report and review of literature

“…Visual deficits were prominent for twelve patients, while only six cases detailed abnormal pituitary function. [4][5][6][7][8][9] The visual deficits often present and progress quickly and rarely improve after treatment.…”

Squamous cell carcinoma occurring with aspergillosis in the maxillary sinus: a case report and histological study

“…However, the relation between fungal infection and tumor formation is not understood. Several studies have shown that aspergillus infection can cause aspergilloma formation at various sites [2][3][4][5][6][7] , and some studies have described bronchogenic carcinoma caused by pulmonary aspergilloma 6 , whilst others have described only the coexistence of aspergilloma and carcinoma in the same cavity 5,7 . Although it is not understood how aspergillosis could induce carcinoma formation, the chronic inflammation caused by prolonged fungal infection might be carcinogenic.…”

“…The most frequent site of human aspergillus infection is the lung, followed by the liver, spleen, bone, meninges, and paranasal sinuses 2 . In several reports, the coexistence of fungal infection and malignancy has been noted in the brain and thoracic cavity [3][4][5][6] . Moreover, Tanaka et al 7 reported the coexistence of aspergillosis and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the maxillary sinus.…”