A pituitary abscess showing high signal intensity on diffusion-weighted imaging

Neurosurg Rev. 2006 Jul;29(3):246-8. doi: 10.1007/s10143-006-0021-0. Epub 2006 Apr 14.

Abstract

The utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for the diagnosis of intracranial abscesses has already been established. However, the use of DWI for pituitary abscesses has not been previously reported. We present a case of postoperative pituitary abscess in which T1-weighted and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a supra-sellar cystic mass, with the cyst contents showing high intensity on DWI. This case suggests that DWI is useful for the diagnosis of pituitary abscesses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Brain Abscess / microbiology
  • Brain Abscess / pathology*
  • Brain Abscess / surgery
  • Central Nervous System Cysts / complications
  • Central Nervous System Cysts / surgery
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Gadolinium
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Pituitary Diseases / microbiology
  • Pituitary Diseases / pathology*
  • Pituitary Diseases / surgery
  • Pituitary Gland / microbiology
  • Pituitary Gland / pathology*
  • Pituitary Gland / surgery
  • Postoperative Complications / microbiology
  • Postoperative Complications / pathology*
  • Postoperative Complications / surgery
  • Pseudomonas Infections / pathology
  • Radiopharmaceuticals

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Gadolinium