Pituitary macroadenoma presenting as a nasal tumor: case report / Macroadenoma hipofisário, apresentando-se como um tumor nasal: relato de caso

CONTEXT: Pituitary macroadenomas are rare intracranial tumors. In a few cases, they may present aggressive behavior and invade the sphenoid sinus and nasal cavity, causing unusual symptoms. In this paper, we report an atypical case of pituitary adenoma presenting as a nasal mass. CASE REPORT: The patient was a 44-year-old woman who had had amenorrhea and galactorrhea for ten months, with associated nasal obstruction, macroglossia and acromegaly. Both growth hormone and prolactin levels were increased. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large mass originating from the lower surface of the pituitary gland, associated with sella turcica erosion and tumor extension through the sphenoid sinus and nasal cavity. Histopathological analysis demonstrated a chromophobe pituitary adenoma with densely packed rounded epithelial cells, with some atypias and rare mitotic figures. There was no evidence of metastases. CONCLUSION: Macroadenoma invading the nasal cavity is a rare condition and few similar cases have been reported in the literature. This study contributes towards showing that tumor extension to the sphenoid sinus and nasopharynx needs to be considered and investigated in order to make an early diagnosis when atypical symptoms like nasal obstruction are present. .

CONTEXTO: Macroadenomas hipofisários são tumores intracraniais raros. Em alguns casos, podem apresentar comportamento agressivo e invadir o seio esfenoidal e a cavidade nasal, causando sintomas não usuais. Neste relato de caso, descrevemos um caso atípico de adenoma hipofisário manifestando-se como uma massa nasal. RELATO DE CASO: A paciente de 44 anos, do sexo feminino, apresentava amenorreia e galactorreia por 10 meses associando-se a obstrução nasal, macroglossia e acromegalia. Os níveis do hormônio de crescimento e de prolactina apresentaram-se aumentados. Ressonância magnética mostrou uma grande massa originada da superfície inferior da glândula hipofisária associada com erosão da sela túrcica e extensão do tumor através do seio esfenoidal e cavidade nasal. Análise histopatológica demonstrou adenoma hipofisário cromófobo com células epiteliais arrendondadas densamente agrupadas com algumas atipias e escassas figuras de mitose. Não houve evidências de metástase. CONCLUSÃO: O macroadenoma invasivo para a cavidade nasal é uma condição rara e há poucos relatos similares descritos na literatura. Este trabalho contribui para mostrar que, na presença de sintomas atípicos como a obstrução nasal, a extensão para o seio esfenoidal e para a nasofaringe deve ser considerada e investigada para um diagnóstico precoce. .

Pituitary macroadenoma presenting as a nasal tumor: case report.

CONTEXT: Pituitary macroadenomas are rare intracranial tumors. In a few cases, they may present aggressive behavior and invade the sphenoid sinus and nasal cavity, causing unusual symptoms. In this paper, we report an atypical case of pituitary adenoma presenting as a nasal mass. CASE REPORT: The patient was a 44-year-old woman who had had amenorrhea and galactorrhea for ten months, with associated nasal obstruction, macroglossia and acromegaly. Both growth hormone and prolactin levels were increased. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large mass originating from the lower surface of the pituitary gland, associated with sella turcica erosion and tumor extension through the sphenoid sinus and nasal cavity. Histopathological analysis demonstrated a chromophobe pituitary adenoma with densely packed rounded epithelial cells, with some atypias and rare mitotic figures. There was no evidence of metastases. CONCLUSION: Macroadenoma invading the nasal cavity is a rare condition and few similar cases have been reported in the literature. This study contributes towards showing that tumor extension to the sphenoid sinus and nasopharynx needs to be considered and investigated in order to make an early diagnosis when atypical symptoms like nasal obstruction are present.

Adult onset chronic unihemispheric vasculitis resembling Rasmussen encephalitis.

INTRODUCTION: Rasmussen encephalitis (RE), a chronic inflammatory unilateral brain disease, is usually associated with intractable seizures and progressive neurologic deterioration. Despite being initially observed in children, an adult form has been more recently recognized. MRI discloses progressive atrophy and signal changes through the affected hemisphere, but rarely gadolinium enhancement, which when observed requires a brain biopsy to distinguish Rasmussen encephalitis from an alternative diagnosis as unihemispheric vasculitis. CASE REPORT: An adult patient had at the age of 35 his first generalized seizure followed by transient right hemiparesis and aphasia. Two years later, seizures relapsed with a gradually increasing frequency associated with progressive neurologic deterioration. Repeated brain imaging, revealed progressive atrophy and signal changes within the left hemisphere with gadolinium enhancement. Histopathology disclosed focal gliosis mainly in white matter and some small intraparenchymal arteries, and arterioles with perivascular and intramural chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate. CONCLUSION: Unihemispheric chronic vasculitis may resemble adult-onset Rasmussen encephalitis, and persistent gadolinium enhancement seen on MRI lesions is helpful for the differential diagnosis between the 2 conditions.

Cerebellar glioblastoma multiforme in an adult.

Cerebellar glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a rare tumor. This is the third case published in Brazilian literature and, the last one has been described more than 15 years ago. The aggressive behavior of GBM prompts for fast treatment, which can be hampered by the fact that the diagnosis of GBM requires a high degree of suspicion. We describe a case of GBM in a 46 years old man. In conjunction, we present a literature review including particular issues, clinical data, advances in imaging studies, pathological characteristics, treatment options and the behavior of such malignant tumor.

Cerebellar glioblastoma multiforme in an adult

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cerebelar é um tumor raro. Apresentamos o terceiro caso revisado em literatura neurológica brasileira, sendo o último descrito há mais de 15 anos. Devido a sua agressividade, o tratamento deve ser instituído rapidamente, porém certa indefinição quanto à conduta pode ocorrer, pois o diagnóstico de GBM pode não ser lembrado. Apresentamos um caso de GBM cerebelar em um homem de 46 anos. Também fazemos uma revisão a respeito de seu comportamento, quadro clínico e avanços quanto à investigação por imagem, aspectos histopatológicos, formas de tratamento e suas características peculiares.