Pituitary adenomas in children and adolescents: Diagnostic challenge

Abstract

Pituitary adenomas have a low incidence in pediatric and adolescent patients, ant they are usually benign and relatively common intracranial tumors, with under- and overexpression of pituitary hormones and local mass effects causing considerable morbidity and increased mortality We report the observations of three patients who presented visual disorders, an MRI was done objectifying a sellar tumoral process with suspicion of a craniopharyngioma for the 3 cases, a surgical treatment was indicated with rectification of the diagnosis after the anatomopatho-immunohistochemical study, which concluded to a prolactinoma for 1st end 2nd cases which were put under dopamine agonists, and to a somatotropic adenoma for 3rd case which was addressed for revision surgery. Immunohistochemistry remains the key element in diagnosing pituitary tumors and orientating their management. The management of pituitary adenomas in pediatric patient’s mimic’s patterns of management in the adult population end requires a multidisciplinary management.