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Pituitary adenomas with infra-sellar extension into the nasopharynx

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Benoit Godey*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Rennes University Hospital, Pontchaillou, France.
Xavier Morandi
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Neurosurgery, Rennes University Hospital, Pontchaillou, France.
François Le Gall
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Histopathology, Rennes University Hospital, Pontchaillou, France.
Stephane Feat
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Rennes University Hospital, Pontchaillou, France.
Gilles Brassier
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Neurosurgery, Rennes University Hospital, Pontchaillou, France.
Guy Le Clech
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Rennes University Hospital, Pontchaillou, France.
*
Address for correspondence: Benoit Godey, M.D., service ORL, CHU de Rennes, 2 rue Henri le Guillou, 35033 Rennes Cedex 9, France. Fax: 02.99.28.41.94 e-mail: benoit.godey@univ-rennes1.fr

Abstract

Three cases of pituitary adenomas with infra-sellar extension into the nasopharynx and the nasal cavities are reported. The clinical signs were epistaxis, nasal obstruction, painful sinuses and purulent rhinorrhoea. The initial diagnostic hypothesis was that of a carcinoma of the nasopharynx or the sinuses in all three cases. The diagnosis was made by histological examination and measurement of plasma hormone levels. These cases highlight the difficulty in the diagnosis of such tumours due to their misleading clinical, radiological and histological features.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

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