Distinctions between pituicytoma and ordinary pilocytic astrocytoma

Abstract

The authors present a rare case of pituicytoma. A dynamic magnetic resonance study performed after Gd injection revealed a markedly, homogeneously enhanced, early-phase pituitary lesion in a 32-year-old woman with a 1-year history of amenorrhea. The tumor bled easily during transsphenoidal resection. The lesion consisted of plump spindle cells and lacked Rosenthal fibers and granular bodies, and thus was different from ordinary pilocytic astrocytoma or any other form of this tumor. Although pituicytoma is often confused with pilocytic astrocytoma when it appears in the sellar region, these two kinds of gliomas should be distinguished on the basis of histological differences.

Pituicytoma, Spindle Cell Oncocytoma, and Granular Cell Tumor: Clarification and Meta-Analysis of the World Literature since 1893

“…pilocytic astrocytoma-previously used synonymously for what is now termed pituicytoma-typically does not involve the infundibulum or pituitary gland 4 ). This search identified 145 potential cases (81 GCTs, 48 pituicytomas, and 16 SCOs).…”

Pituicytoma-Two Case Reports-

“…1,2) None of the tumors showed reactivity for synaptophysin, neurofilament, smooth muscle actin, desmin, carcinoembryonic antigen, collagen type IV, or cytokeratin. 1,7,8,12) The present tumors showed positive immunoreactivity for S-100 protein and GFAP, and negative reactivity for EMA (Figs. 2 and 4).…”

“…1,6) Nineteen cases have been reported with typical pathological findings and localization. 1,2,4,[6][7][8]11,12) We report two new cases of suprasellar pituicytomas showing no regrowth after partial removal, and discuss the clinical manifestations, indications for management, and role of adjuvant therapy.…”

Pituicytoma: Report of two cases

“…These findings are not in agreement with some authors. Ulm et al reported that pituicytomas generally were highly vascular, and significant bleeding is often encountered during resection (3,(7)(8)(9)(10). These authors correctly call attention to the fact that surgery may be difficult due to the location and marked vascularity of the tumors.…”

“…Scothorne reported the first case in 1955 (1). Since then, 28 additional cases (not including the present two cases) of this neoplasm have been reported (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14), including one autopsy case (5). It is difficult to identify pituicytomas from other sellar and suprasellar neoplasms, such as granular cell tumors and pilocytic astrocytomas.…”