Salivary Gland-Like Tumor of the Sella

Abstract

Tumors arising in the sellar region are predominantly benign, non-invasive pituitary adenomas. Invasive pituitary adenomas (approximately 35 % of the pituitary adenomas) and pituitary carcinomas (0.1 – 0.5 %) arise from the same cells in the pituitary gland as the benign tumors, but have different pathology and biological behavior. A wide variety of nonadenomatous lesions involve the sellar region. These include tumors that arise specifically from sellar and suprasellar structures, as well as those that are also found elsewhere in the CNS (e.g. meningioma, glioma, metastasis, etc.). Typical nonadenomatous tumors that originate in the sellar region are craniopharyngioma and Rathke’s cleft cyst. The purpose of this paper is to describe another nonadenomatous tumor specific to the sellar region, a salivary gland-like tumor, and review the literature on this subject. This case report will also illustrate the management decisions regarding a patient with multiple medical issues and an aggressive sellar tumor.