Neuroimaging characteristics and growth pattern on magnetic resonance imaging in a 52-year-old man presenting with pituicytoma: a case report

Yasushi Kosuge,Takuo Hashimoto,Yuichiro Tanaka,Hiroyuki Morishima,Jun Hiramoto

doi:10.1186/1752-1947-6-306

Yasushi Kosuge, Takuo Hashimoto + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-6-306

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Abstract

IntroductionPituicytoma is a rare neoplasm of the neurohypophysis. To the best of our knowledge there have been no reports of pituicytoma in which long-term magnetic resonance imaging observation was performed. We calculated the doubling time of the tumor volume and described the growth pattern of a pituicytoma.Case presentationA 52-year-old Japanese man with a history of decreased libido was found to have a sellar and suprasellar mass. He underwent transsphenoidal surgery, but only a small specimen was obtained because of intraoperative bleeding. The tentative histological diagnosis was schwannoma. He noticed bitemporal hemianopsia 7 years later. A follow-up magnetic resonance imaging disclosed a tumor volume doubling time of 3830 days. Transcranial gross-total tumor resection was performed. The lesion consisted of elongated and plump tumor cells that were arranged in a fascicular or storiform pattern and were positive for S-100 protein and focally positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein. The final histological diagnosis was pituicytoma.ConclusionPituicytoma is a slow-growing tumor, but the growth rate may change during follow-up.

Highlights

Pituicytoma is a rare neoplasm of the neurohypophysis
Pituicytoma is a rare neoplasm in adults
It corresponds to a low-grade astrocytoma of the neurohypophysis that presumably arises from pituicytes of the stalk and posterior lobe of the pituitary gland [1,2]

Summary

Introduction

Pituicytoma is a rare neoplasm in adults It corresponds to a low-grade astrocytoma of the neurohypophysis that presumably arises from pituicytes of the stalk and posterior lobe of the pituitary gland [1,2]. Case presentation A 52-year-old Japanese man presented with a 1-year history of decreased libido. He was referred to our institution for evaluation of a possible pituitary tumor. Progressive bitemporal hemianopsia occurred at 7 years after surgery and MRI revealed apparent tumor progression during the previous 2 years (Figure 2). A second operation was performed for transcranial tumor removal with an interhemispheric approach. The patient’s MIB-1 index was 1% (Figure 3) All these findings are compatible with a diagnosis of pituicytoma

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