Pituitary Abscess Causing Panhypopituitarism in a Patient With Neurobrucellosis: Case Report.

Background/Objective: Pituitary abscess is an uncommon life-threatening disease that could lead to panhypopituitarism. It is important to suspect its prevalence in regions with endemic infectious diseases. Case Report: A 55-year-old man, a farmer, with a background of consumption of unpasteurized dairy products, presented with headache, impaired consciousness, and fever that started in February 2023. Initial test results were consistent with neuroinfection. Brain MRI showed ventriculitis; the pituitary gland was heterogeneous with the presence of an 8 × 8 mm abscess. The pituitary hormone axis was evaluated, and it showed results compatible with the results of panhypopituitarism with central hypothyroidism, central hypocortisolism, central hypogonadism, and growth hormone deficiency. Hormone replacement treatment with hydrocortisone and levothyroxine was started. The Rose Bengal test for Brucella spp. and 2-mercaptoethanol Brucella agglutination test showed positive results. After neurobrucellosis (NB) was diagnosed, antibiotic treatment was commenced. The patient was discharged 6 weeks later and treatment with prednisone, levothyroxine, recombinant somatropin, testosterone, as well as doxycycline, and rifampin was continued for another 4 months. Discussion: NB and pituitary abscess are rare manifestations of brucellosis and are challenging to diagnose due to their nonspecific clinical presentation and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings. NB diagnosis relies on neurologic symptoms and serological evidence of Brucella infection. Magnetic resonance imaging is the preferred diagnostic tool for pituitary abscesses. Medical management may be sufficient, while transsphenoidal drainage is not always necessary. Hormonal deficits typically remain permanent. Conclusion: Pituitary abscess could be suspected in patients presenting with symptoms of neuroinfection, panhypopituitarism, and heterogenous image in the magnetic resonance imaging differential diagnosis. Opportune management can lead to reduced mortality and improved recovery of the pituitary hormone function.

Pituitary Hormonal Disturbances in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Distúrbios hormonais pituitários na hemorragia subaracnóidea aneurismática

Objective The objective of the present study was to assess the hormonal alterations that occurred in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Methods This is a case series with 21 patients diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage of aneurysmal etiology up to 30 days after the ictus. The following hormonal measurements were performed in these patients: cortisol, GH, testosterone, prolactin, estradiol, FSH, LH, FSH, T3, T4 and free T4. The hormonal results of the cases were compared with the results of twelve volunteers from the control group and correlated with findings in brain tomography, cerebral angiography, Hunt-Hess scale, and vasospasm. Results The main altered hormones were cortisol (52.6%), GH (42.9%) and TSH (28.6%). There was a trend towards more severe cases in the following groups of patients: Hunt-Hess scale > 2, Fisher scale > 1, aneurysmal topography in the anterior communicating artery and those who had vasospasm. Conclusion The present study observed the tendency of pituitary hormonal changes in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage of aneurysmal etiology, corroborating the need for dosage of hormones from the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in the management of these cases.

Objetivo O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar as alterações hormonais em pacientes com hemorragia subaracnóidea e correlacionar tais alterações com a gravidade da hemorragia. Métodos Trata-se de uma série de casos com 21 pacientes com diagnóstico de hemorragia subaracnóidea de etiologia aneurismática até 30 dias do ictus. Foram realizadas as seguintes dosagens hormonais nesses pacientes: cortisol, GH, testosterona, prolactina, estradiol, FSH, LH, FSH, T3, T4 e T4 livre. Os resultados hormonais dos casos foram comparados com os resultados de 12 voluntários do grupo controle e correlacionados com achados em tomografia de crânio, estudo angiográfico cerebral, escala de Hunt-Hess e vasoespasmo. Resultados Os principais hormônios alterados foram o cortisol (52,6%), GH (42,9%) e o TSH (28,6%). Houve uma tendência de casos mais graves nos seguintes grupos de pacientes: escala de Hunt-Hess > 2, escala de Fisher > 1, topografia aneurismática na artéria comunicante anterior e aqueles que cursaram com o vasoespasmo. Conclusão O presente estudo observou a tendência de alterações hormonais hipofisárias em pacientes com hemorragia subaracnóidea de etiologia aneurismática, corroborando a necessidade de dosagem dos hormônios do eixo hipotálamo-hipofisário no manejo desses casos.

Extra-pituitary midline structural abnormalities associated with ectopic posterior pituitary detected on a new rapid MRI protocol (FAST1.2)

ABSTRACT Objective: Test if the MRI FAST1.2 protocol can detect extra-pituitary midline structural brain abnormalities in patients with ectopic posterior pituitary (EPP), and highlighting their radiological-laboratory correlations. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional study of patients with EPP and control group. All individuals were submitted to FAST1.2, which combines the FAST1 protocol developed by our group with 3D T2DRIVE imaging. Results: We evaluated 36 individuals with EPP and 78 as control group. Pituitary stalk (PS) was identified in 7/36 patients in EPP group by FAST1, and in 24/36 patients in FAST1.2 (p < 0.001). FAST1 failed to detect PS in one individual in the control group, while the FAST1.2 defined the PS in all individuals. In EPP group, eleven had interhypothalamic adhesion (IHA), three septo-optic dysplasia, and one cerebellar malformation. We didn't observe higher frequency of panhypopituitarism or developmental delay in patients with IHA. In control group, three had pars intermedia cysts, one hydrocephalus, and one hypothalamic hamartoma. Conclusions: FAST1.2 allows confident recognition of midline structural abnormalities, including the pituitary stalk and IHA, thereby making MRI acquisition faster and with no need for contrast administration. IHA could be associated with defects in neuronal migration, as occur in patients with EPP, with no clinical significance.

Extra-pituitary midline structural abnormalities associated with ectopic posterior pituitary detected on a new rapid MRI protocol (FAST1.2).

Objective: Test if the MRI FAST1.2 protocol can detect extra-pituitary midline structural brain abnormalities in patients with ectopic posterior pituitary (EPP), and highlighting their radiological-laboratory correlations. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional study of patients with EPP and control group. All individuals were submitted to FAST1.2, which combines the FAST1 protocol developed by our group with 3D T2DRIVE imaging. Results: We evaluated 36 individuals with EPP and 78 as control group. Pituitary stalk (PS) was identified in 7/36 patients in EPP group by FAST1, and in 24/36 patients in FAST1.2 (p < 0.001). FAST1 failed to detect PS in one individual in the control group, while the FAST1.2 defined the PS in all individuals. In EPP group, eleven had interhypothalamic adhesion (IHA), three septo-optic dysplasia, and one cerebellar malformation. We didn't observe higher frequency of panhypopituitarism or developmental delay in patients with IHA. In control group, three had pars intermedia cysts, one hydrocephalus, and one hypothalamic hamartoma. Conclusion: FAST1.2 allows confident recognition of midline structural abnormalities, including the pituitary stalk and IHA, thereby making MRI acquisition faster and with no need for contrast administration. IHA could be associated with defects in neuronal migration, as occur in patients with EPP, with no clinical significance.

Panhipopituitarismo secundario a hemorragia obstétrica profusa / Panhypopituitarism secondary to profuse obstetric haemorrhage

El síndrome de Sheehan o necrosis hipofisaria posparto, constituye la causa más importante de panhipopituitarismo, que de forma ocasional se asocia a hemorragia obstétrica profusa asociada a choque hipovolémico hemorrágico, ocasionando un colapso circulatorio intenso debido a isquemia de la adenohipófisis durante el parto o después del mismo, debido a que esta glándula endócrina sufre importantes cambios anatómicos e histológicos durante el embarazo, los cuales incrementan su volumen hasta en 40%. De esta forma, se produce una secreción reducida de las hormonas que ayudan a regular el crecimiento, la reproducción y el metabolismo, evidenciando en el examen hormonal detallado insuficiencia específicamente de la hormona de crecimiento, foliculoestimulante, luteinizante, estimulante de tiroides, adrenocorticotropica y prolactina predisponiendo a la paciente a inestabilidad hemodinámica a corto plazo así como desequilibrio hormonal permanente. Por esta importancia, es que se presenta el caso de una paciente que ingresó a la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva tras cesárea iterativa debido a acretismo placentario llegando a la histerectomía total intercurriendo con choque hemorrágico, quien cursó durante su estancia en la Unidad con ausencia de recuperación neurológica total y características propias de síndrome de Sheehan, confirmándose el mismo por los niveles hormonales bajos y la ausencia de imagen en la silla turca correspondiente a la necrosis hipofisaria evidenciado por resonancia magnética, realizándose además una sucinta revisión acerca de la literatura relacionada actual.

ABSTRACT Sheehan syndrome or postpartum pituitary necrosis is the most common cause of hypopituitarism and occurs secondary to profuse obstetric haemorrhage with subsequent hypovolemic hemorrhagic shock, with intense circulatory collapse, predisposing to pituitary ischemia during delivery or after the same, due to the hypertrophic changes that occur in this gland during pregnancy. In this syndrome exists a reduced secretion of the hormones that regulate growth, reproduction and metabolism. We present the case of a female patient admitted to the Critical Care Unit after iterative cesarean due to placenta accreta and total hysterectomy, in hypovolemic shock secondary to severe hemorrhage, being suspicious of Sheehan´s syndrome, with characteristic clinical features, low hormone levels and the absence of image in the Turkish chair corresponding to the pituitary necrosis.

[IgG4 related disease presenting as panhypopituitarism and perimacular scotoma]. / Panhipopituitarismo y escotoma perimacular como presentación de enfermedad relacionada a IgG4.

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a recently described systemic entity of unknown origin. It predominantly affects older men and has distinctive histopathologic features as storiform fibrosis, obliterative phlebitis, dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with immunostaining for IgG4, and it may be associated with elevated serum levels of IgG4. Although any organ can be affected, pituitary gland is rarely involved. We describe the case of a 36-year-old man who presented with headaches, impaired vision, panhypopituitarism with diabetes insipidus and an infiltrative lesion mainly of infundibulum and pituitary. We arrived at diagnosis of IgG4-RD by pituitary biopsy. A successful response to treatment with immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids was achieved.

Panhipopituitarismo y escotoma perimacular como presentación de enfermedad relacionada a IgG4 / IgG4 related disease presenting as panhypopituitarism and perimacular scotoma

La enfermedad relacionada a IgG4 (IgG4-RD) constituye una entidad sistémica recientemente descrita, de causa desconocida. Afecta predominantemente a hombres mayores y presenta características histopatológicas distintivas, como fibrosis estoriforme, flebitis obliterante y denso infiltrado linfoplasmocitario con inmunomarcación para IgG4, pudiendo estar asociada a elevación sérica de dicha inmunoglobulina. Si bien cualquier órgano puede estar afectado, el compromiso de la hipófisis es infrecuente. Describimos el caso de un hombre de 36 años que se presentó con cefaleas, alteración del campo visual, panhipopituitarismo, diabetes insípida y una imagen que mostraba una lesión infiltrativa infundíbulo-panhipofisaria extendida. Arribamos al diagnóstico de IgG4-RD a través de biopsia hipofisaria. La respuesta al tratamiento con dosis inmunosupresoras de corticoides fue exitosa.

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a recently described systemic entity of unknown origin. It predominantly affects older men and has distinctive histopathologic features as storiform fibrosis, obliterative phlebitis, dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with immunostaining for IgG4, and it may be associated with elevated serum levels of IgG4. Although any organ can be affected, pituitary gland is rarely involved. We describe the case of a 36-year-old man who presented with headaches, impaired vision, panhypopituitarism with diabetes insipidus and an infiltrative lesion mainly of infundibulum and pituitary. We arrived at diagnosis of IgG4-RD by pituitary biopsy. A successful response to treatment with immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids was achieved.

Hepatopathy in an adult, secondary to congenital untreated panhypopituitarism and ectopic posterior pituitary gland.

We report a rare case of an adult with advanced liver failure in the setting of an untreated congenital panhypopituitarism. A 32-years-old man presented with a newly onset seizure episode secondary to hypoglycemia. In the initial exploration, we found eunuchoid habitus, absence of secondary sexual characteristics, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. Hormonal evaluation confirmed the absence of anterior hypophyseal hormones and the liver function tests showed derangement of liver function. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed hypoplastic adenohypophysis and ectopic posterior pituitary gland. In the approach to liver disease, no cause was identified, besides the untreated panhypopituitarism.

Síndrome de Sheehan: descripción de un caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Sheehan’s syndrome: a case report and literature review

Introducción: la necrosis hipofisaria posparto o síndrome de Sheehan se presenta secundaria a una hemorragia obstétrica, ocasionando un colapso circulatorio intenso el cual, a su vez, predispone a la isquemia de la hipófisis aumentada de tamaño. Objetivo: presentar un caso clínico de una paciente quien consultó por manifestaciones tardías de este síndrome y hacer una revisión de la literatura. Metodología: se buscó información en la bases de datos de PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane y SciELO; así como en referencias de artículos de revista y textos principalmente de los últimos cinco años. Seguidamente, se tomaron los siete artículos más relevantes según la calificación de la revista en donde fueron publicados. Resultados: la característica clínica del síndrome de Sheehan que se manifiesta con mayor frecuencia es la incapacidad para lactar debido a una producción insuficiente de prolactina. Otras manifestaciones tardías incluyen: secreción inadecuada de la hormona antidiurética y deficiencias en la secreción de cortisol, de hormona tiroidea y de gonadotrofinas. Es importante que el obstetra y el médico general sepan reconocer este síndrome, ya que la pérdida aguda del funcionamiento de la adenohipófisis puede ser de mal pronóstico si no se realiza un reemplazo hormonal adecuado. Además, el buen control hormonal evita o disminuye las complicaciones metabólicas y cardiovasculares. Conclusión: el síndrome de Sheehan es una enfermedad poco frecuente, la cual es difícil de diagnosticar tempranamente. Asimismo, requiere una terapia de reemplazo hormonal con controles permanentes clínicos y paraclínicos.

Introduction: postpartum pituitary necrosis, or Sheehan’s syndrome, occurs following obstetric haemorrhage which causes intense circulatory collapse, thereby predisposing pituitary ischemia leading to this organ becoming enlarged (the posterior pituitary is generally affected). This document presents a clinical case of a patient who consulted due to late manifestations of this syndrome. A literature review is also made. Objective: presenting the case of a patient who consulted for late manifestations of Sheehan’s syndrome and reviewing the pertinent literature. Methodology: information was sought in the PubMed / Medline, Cochrane, SciELO databases and references from articles in journals and texts (mainly from the last five years) were also taken into account. The seven most relevant articles were taken according to the impact of the journal in which they were published. Results: the most frequently found clinical characteristic was an inability to lactate due to insufficient prolactin production. The most common clinical feature found was an inability to breastfeed due to insufficient prolactin production. Other manifestations included inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion and cortisol, thyroid hormone and gonadotropin secretion deficiencies. Obstetricians and GPs should be able to recognise this syndrome and know about its management as the acute loss of adenohypophysis functioning may have a poor prognosis without timely and suitable hormone replacement. Good hormone control prevents or decreases metabolic and cardiovascular complications. Conclusion: this is a rare syndrome in which early diagnosis is difficult and requires hormone replacement therapy with ongoing clinical and laboratory controls.

Panhipopituitarismo secundario a macroadenoma hipofisario no funcionante en la adolescencia

Objetivo: Presentar el caso poco frecuente de una adolescente con un macroadenoma hipofisario no funcionante que le produjo un hipopituitarismo. Se hace una revisión de la literatura. Caso Clínico: Adolescente femenina de 16 años 2 meses de edad quien presenta poco progreso en talla y ausencia de caracteres sexuales secundarios; refiere concomitantemente cefaleas ocasionales. Al examen físico presenta talla y peso por debajo del pc 3, velocidad de crecimiento 2,8 cm/año, cubitus valgus, paladar ojival, cuarto metacarpiano corto, no tiromegalia. Genitales, mamas, vello axilar y púbico Tanner I. Se hace diagnóstico de talla baja patológica y retraso puberal y se indican exámenes de paraclínicos. Los resultados de laboratorio muestran un déficit de hormona de crecimiento (GH) y un hipocortisolismo, con función tiroidea conservada. Edad ósea de 11 años para una edad cronológica de 15 años. Cariotipo 46,XX. Rx lateral de cráneo muestra silla turca amplia y excavada. Us pélvico: útero en anteversion, central, con longitud de 20 mm; no se visualizan línea endometrial ni ovarios. La RMN muestra el piso de la región selar deformado, excavado, con imagen compatible con LOE de contornos más o menos definidos con señal intermedia baja y dishomogénea en T1, con realce hipertenso dishomogéneo tras la administración del medio de contraste, de aproximadamente 2,9 x 1,36 cm. de diámetro, con compromiso de los elementos supraselares, ejerciendo efecto compresivo sobre el infundíbulo el cual deforma el quiasma óptico. Se hace diagnóstico de Panhipopituitarismo secundario a Macroadenoma Hipofisario no Secretante, con Déficit de GH, Hipogonadismo Hipogonadotropo e Insuficiencia Suprarrenal Secundaria (Déficit de ACTH). Se indica tratamiento con hidrocortisona por vía oral. Se refiere para resolución quirúrgica por vía transesfenoidal ya que en nuestro centro no se realiza. Se desconoce el reporte histológico del tumor y la evolución de la paciente. Conclusiones: Los adenomas hipofisarios representan menos del 2-3% de todos los tumores intracraneales y sus manifestaciones clínicas dependen de la suma de un efecto masa, que causa alteraciones neurológicas, y la afectación de la secreción hormonal, ya sea por exceso o por defecto. Es importante realizar un diagnóstico temprano, así como un tratamiento efectivo y seguimiento a largo plazo.

Objective: To present the uncommon case of a teenager with a non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma that resulted in a hypopituitarism. A literature review is done. Case Report: Female adolescent of 16 years 2 months of age who presents little progress in stature and absence of secondary sexual characters; concomitantly refers occasional headaches. Physical examination: height and weight below the 3 pc, growth velocity 2.8 cm/year, cubitus valgus, ojival palate, short fourth metacarpal, no thyroid enlargement. Genitals, breasts, axillary and pubic hair, Tanner I. The diagnosis of pathological short stature and delayed puberty is done and paraclinical examinations are indicated. Laboratory results show a deficit of growth hormone (GH) and a hypocortisolism with preserved thyroid function. Bone age of 11 years for a chronological age of 15 years. Karyotype 46, XX. Rx of the skull shows a wide and excavated sella turcica. Pelvic Us: central uterus, in anteversion, 20 mm in length and the endometrium and ovaries were no visible. NMR shows the floor of the sellar region warped, carved, with a image compatible with tumour of defined contours, with low-intermediate and dishomogenea signal on T1, with hypertensive and heterogeneou enhancement after administration of contrast medium, approximately 2.9 x 1.36 cm. in diameter, with involvement of the supraselares elements exerting compressive effect on the infundibulum, which deforms the optic chiasm. The diagnosis of panhypopituitarism secondary to pituitary non functioning macroadenoma is done, with GH deficiency, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and secondary adrenal insufficiency (ACTH deficiency). Treatment with oral hydrocortisone is indicated. The patient is referred for resolution by transsphenoidal surgery. The histological report of the tumor and the evolution of the patient are unknown. Conclusions: Pituitary adenomas account for less than 2-3% of all intracranial tumours, and their clinical manifestations depend on the sum of a mass effect, which causes neurological disorders, and the disruption of hormonal secretion, either up or down. It is important to make an early diagnosis, an effective treatment and long-term monitoring.