Two challenging cases of pituicytoma

Pituicytoma is a rare tumor of the pituitary gland derived from neurohypophyseal pituicytes.

A 58-year-old female presented with decreased vision; she was admitted to the neurosurgery department of Ege University after the detection of a pituitary macroadenoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 28 * 18 * 17-mm suprasellar mass, and laboratory tests revealed hypopituitarism. Hydrocortisone and L-thyroxine treatment were initiated, and the patient underwent resection through the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA). The histopathological examination revealed a pituicytoma. The recurrence of tumor was detected during the 1-year follow-up, and the patient is awaiting surgery.

A 70-year-old woman presented with visual changes; she had a past medical history of hypophyseal macroadenoma and pituicytoma resected through an EEA in 2012 and 2017, respectively. During follow-up, 2 years after the second surgery, MRI showed progression of the pituicytoma then measuring 38 × 23 × 22 mm; it had invaded the cavernous sinus and was causing hydrocephaly and panhypopituitarism. The patient underwent the third resection through the transcranial approach in order to minimize bleeding. After this surgery, the patient developed diabetes insipidus and underwent treatment with desmopressin. Histopathological examination revealed a pituicytoma. At 6-month follow-up, imaging showed a sellar suprasellar mass 37 × 22 × 24 mm invading the cavernous sinus, indicative of recurrence. In the postoperative period, the patient applied to the department of radiation oncology to have fractionated radiotherapy.

Pituicytomas are known to be low-grade tumors; because of their rarity, they are a real challenge. These patients should be followed up closely.