Sella turcica 3t magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of cushing's disease in children: two case reports / Ressonância magnética 3t de sela túrcica no diagnóstico de doença de cushing em crianças: relato de dois casos

ABSTRACT Objective: To present two clinical cases of pediatric Cushing disease caused by adrenocorticotropic hormone secreting pituitary adenomas, which were diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging using 3 Tesla technology. Case description: Two cases of Cushing disease in 9-year-old children are reported. Both children presented pituitary adenomas that were smaller than 5 mm at their largest diameter, and which were not seen by standard 1.5 Tesla resonance. One of the patients was submitted to bilateral and simultaneous catheterization of the inferior petrosal sinus, but the result was undetermined. In both cases, the pituitary adenoma was detected by 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Both patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery and were cured. Comments: Cushing disease presents high morbidity. Therefore, early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential. It is usually caused by adenomas that are smaller than 5 mm in diameter. Surgery is the first line of treatment, and effective methods of locating the adenoma are necessary for greater therapeutic success. This report suggests that the 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging is more sensitive, and thus able to detect pituitary microadenomas (largest diameter <10 mm). This exam may be indicated as a low-morbidity diagnostic tool for finding pituitary microadenomas in Cushing disease that are not visualized by 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging.

RESUMO Objetivo: Apresentar dois casos clínicos de Doença de Cushing infantil decorrentes de adenoma hipofisário secretor de hormônio adrenocorticotrófico, cujo diagnóstico foi realizado por meio da ressonância magnética pela tecnologia 3 Tesla. Descrição do caso: São relatados dois casos de Doença de Cushing em crianças aos nove anos. Ambas apresentavam adenomas menores que 5 mm em seu maior diâmetro que não foram visualizados por meio de ressonância magnética de sela turca utilizando tecnologia 1,5 Tesla. Uma das pacientes foi submetida ao cateterismo bilateral e simultâneo do seio petroso inferior, porém com resultado indeterminado. Nas duas, o adenoma hipofisário foi visualizado mediante ressonância magnética utilizando tecnologia 3 Tesla. Ambas foram submetidas à cirurgia transesfenoidal e evoluíram para cura. Comentários: A Doença de Cushing apresenta alta morbidade, necessitando de diagnóstico e tratamento precoces, e geralmente é causada por adenomas com diâmetro inferior a 5 mm. O tratamento é cirúrgico, sendo preciso utilizar métodos eficazes de localização do adenoma para maior sucesso terapêutico. Esses relatos sugerem que a ressonância magnética 3 Tesla tem mais sensibilidade na detecção de microadenomas hipofisários (maior diâmetro <10 mm), podendo-se indicar esse exame como uma ferramenta diagnóstica de baixa morbidade na localização de microadenomas hipofisários na Doença de Cushing não visualizados pela ressonância magnética 1,5 Tesla.

Remisión espontánea de acromegalia y enfermedad de Cushing en adultos mayores: casos clínicos / Spontaneous remission of acromegaly and Cushing's disease in older patients: report of two cases

Pituitary diseases such as acromegaly and Cushing's disease require surgical or medical therapy. In some functioning pituitary tumors, a spontaneous remission of hormonal hypersecretion is observed, mainly associated to apoplexy or pituitary infarction. We report the evolution of two female patients older than 70 years at the time of diagnosis, with multiple comorbidities. In case 1, acromegaly was diagnosed at 74 years of age. Sellar CT scan showed a 10-mm adenoma. During her follow-up, IGF1 levels remained normal. Nine years later, a magnetic resonance (MR) showed a 7-mm adenoma. In case 2, clinical and biochemical diagnosis of Cushing's disease was done being 71 years old. Sellar MR showed a 6-mm adenoma. Three years later, urinary cortisol normalized with no changes in adenoma at MR. Seven years later, she remains without clinical or biochemical signs of hypercortisolism. In both cases, no signs of hemorrhage were observed at MR.