• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.355-359
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• 2009

Objective : The definition of empty sella syndrome is 'an anatomical entity in which the pituitary fossa is partially or completely filled with cerebrospinal fluid, while the pituitary gland is compressed against the posterior rim of the fossa'. Reports of this entities relating to the brain tumors not situated in the pituitary fossa, have rarely been reported. Methods : In order to analyze the incidence and relationship of empty sella in patients having brain tumors, the authors reviewed preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 72 patients with brain tumor regardless of pathology except the pituitary tumors. The patients were operated in single institute by one surgeon. There were 25 males and 47 females and mean patient age was 53 years old (range from 5 years to 84 years). Tumor volume was ranged from 2 cc to 238 cc. Results : The overall incidence of empty sella was positive in 57/72 cases (79.2%). Sorted by the pathology, empty sella was highest in meningioma (88.9%, p=0.042). The empty sella was correlated with patient's increasing age (p=0.003) and increasing tumor volume (p=0.016). Conclusion : Careful review of brain MRI with periodic follow up is necessary for the detection of secondary empty sella in patients with brain tumors. In patients with confirmed empty sella, follow up is mandatory for the management of hypopituitarism, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, visual disturbance and increased intracranial pressure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.118-121
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• 2009

Pituitary apoplexy is a clinical syndrome caused by an acute ischemic or hemorrhagic vascular accident involving a pituitary adenoma or an adjacent pituitary gland. Pituitary apoplexy may be associated with a variety of neurological and endocrinological signs and symptoms. However, isolated third cranial nerve palsy with ptosis as the presenting sign of pituitary apoplexy is very rare. We describe two cases of pituitary apoplexy presenting as sudden-onset unilateral ptosis and diplopia. In one case, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a mass in the pituitary fossa with signs of hemorrhage, upward displacement of the optic chiasm, erosion of the sellar floor and invasion of the right cavernous sinus. In the other case, MRI showed a large area of insufficient enhancement in the anterior pituitary consistent with pituitary infarction or Sheehan's syndrome. We performed neurosurgical decompression via a transsphenoidal approach. Both patients showed an uneventful recovery. Both cases of isolated third cranial nerve palsy with ptosis completely resolved during the early postoperative period. We suggest that pituitary apoplexy should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with isolated third cranial nerve palsy with ptosis and that prompt neurosurgical decompression should be considered for the preservation of third cranial nerve function.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제29권11호
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• pp.1514-1518
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• 2000

Aspergillosis is an uncommon form of fungal infection of the central nervous system in immunocompetent patient, especially those involving the pituitary gland. Several cases of pituitary aspergillosis have been reported, but most of them are directly invaded from aspergillosis of sphenoid sinus. In the present case, a woman with primary pituitary aspergillosis had neither evidence of infection of the sphenoid sinus nor immunodeficiency. The patient underwent a transsphenoidal surgery for a presumed pituitary tumor. Histopathology demonstrated typical findings of aspergillosis. Postoperatively, amphotericin-B was administered and Gallium-67 scan was performed. We describe a case of primary pituitary aspergillosis mimicking pituitary tumor.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.24-26
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• 2013

We encountered a case of pituitary apoplexy who presented with isolated headache and vomiting without visual disturbance or ophthalmoplegia. The cerebrospinal fluid examination was compatible with aseptic meningitis. A computed tomography revealed slightly high density in the pituitary fossa and suprasella area, but the signal change was very faint. Our case suggests that clinicians should take into account the possibility of pituitary apoplexy without visual disturbance or ophthalmoplegia, when aseptic meningitis is suspected.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.117-121
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• 2015

Chordoid glioma is a rare, low-grade brain neoplasm typically located in the third ventricle. Herein, we report an unusual case of histologically confirmed chordoid glioma located in the pituitary fossa and suprasellar region, not attached to the third ventricle. A 57-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of headache and visual disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an ovoid mass in the pituitary fossa and suprasellar region, compressing the optic chiasm without involvement of the third ventricle. The tumor showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted images and iso- to high signal intensity on T2-weighted images, with strong and homogenous contrast enhancement. Subtotal resection was performed via the transcranial approach, and the patient subsequently received adjuvant gamma knife radiosurgery. However, the residual mass showed disease progression 5 months after the initial surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.425-428
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• 2007

Hemangiopericytoma [HPC] is a rare tumor with uncommon location in the central nervous system. We report a rare case of sellar and suprasellar HPC mimicking pituitary adenoma in a patient initially seen with the symptoms of bitemporal hemianopsia, headache, and panhypopituitarism. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a contrast-enhancing soft tissue mass arising from the pituitary fossa, with apparent compression of the chiasm and involving the cavernous sinus. Subtotal resection of the tumor was achieved via a pterional approach. Histopathological examination identified the tumor as a HPC. Nine years later, the tumor recurred. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of sellar and suprasellar HPC in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권9호
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• pp.1079-1085
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• 2001

Objective : We analysed various surgical approaches and surgical results of 28 middle cranial base tumors for the purpose of selecting optimal surgical approach to the middle cranial base tumor. Methods : In this retrospective review, 28 patients, including 16 meningioma, 6 trigeminal neurinoma, 2 pituitary adenoma, 2 craniopharyngioma, 1 facial neurinoma, and 1 metastatic tumor, underwent surgical treatment using skull base technique. Of theses, 16 tumors were mainly confined to middle cranial fossae, 5 tumors with extension into both anterior and middle fossa, and 7 tumors with extension into both middle and posterior fossa. Tumors that confined to the middle cranial fossa or extended into the anterior cranial fossa were operated with modified pterional, orbitozygomatic or Dolen'c approach, and tumors that extended into the posterior cranial fossa were operated with anterior, posterior or combined transpetrosal approach. Completeness of tumor resection, surgical outcome, postoperative complication, and follow up result were studied. Results : Total tumor removal was achieved in 9 tumors of 10 tumors that did not extended to the cavernous sinus, and was achieved in 7 tumors of 8 tumors that extended to the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. Of 10 tumors that extended to the venous channel of the cavernous sinus, only 2 were removed totally. Surgical outcome was excellent in 14 patients, good in 10, fair in 2 and poor in 2. There were no death in this series. Dumbell type tumor which extended into both middle and posterior fossae showed tendency of poor prognosis as compared with tumors that confined middle cranial fossa and extended into both anterior and middle cranial fossa. Postoperative dysfunctions were trieminal hypesthesia in 3, oculomotor nerve palsy in 2, abducens nerve palsy in 2, hemiparesis in 2, cerebellar sign in 1, facial palsy in 1 and hearing impairment in 1. Conclusion : Based on our findings and a review of the literature, we conclude that, when selecting the surgical approach to the middle cranial fossa tumors, the most important factors to be considered were exact location of the tumor mass and existence of the cavernous sinus invasion by tumor mass. We recommend modified pterional or orbitozygomatic approach in cases with tumors located anterior and middle cranial base, without cavernous sinus invasion. In cases with tumors invading into cavernous sinus, we recommend Dolen'c or orbitozygomatic approach. And in lateral wall mass and the cavernous sinus, it is preferred to approach the tumor extradurally. For the tumor involing with middle fossa and posterior fossa(dumbell type) a combined petrosal approach is necessary. In cases with cavernous sinus invasion and internal carotid artery encasement, we recommend subtotal resection of the tumor and radiation therapy to prevent permanent postoperative sequele.

• 치과방사선
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.43-48
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• 1977

The authors had observed a rare case of osteopetrosis from 8 years old male who had complained nasal obstruction at, Department of Dental Radiology, Kyung Hee University. In the serial roentgenograms the following results were revealed. 1. This osteopetrosis was considered to be malignant rather than benign. 2. In the skull, the greatest degree of radiopacity was found in the base. The pituitary fossa appeared to be small and posterior clinoid process revealed clubbing and thickening. 3. In the frontal and nasal bones were slightly enlarged with marked radiopacity and paranasal sinuses were obscured. 4. The maxilla was markedly affected and bony trabeculae were seen to be coarse and thickened but mandibular posterior segment slightly. 5. There were long retardation of the tooth eruption and physiologic resorption of the deciduous teeth, and tooth root revealed stunted and dwarfed appearance in the both jaws. 6. In this case, the thickened alveolar lamina dura was indistinguishable.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.325-335
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• 1998

목적 : 감마 나이프에 사용되고 있는 코발트-60의 골에 의한 흡수 선량 감소는 -3.5$\%$이다. 그러나 모든 방사선 수술 치료 계획 시스템은 치료 부위를 단위밀도 (unit density)로 가정하여 계산을 시행하므로 조직 불균일성에 대한 고려를 하지않고 있다. 중두개와 (mid cranial fossa) 부위는 여러 두께의 골로 구성되어 있기 때문에 감마 나이프를 이용한 방사선 조사시 중두개와에 위치한 병변인 뇌하수체 종양 지점이나 청신경 초종 지점의 치료시 흡수되는 방사선량은 방사선 수술 계획 시스템에 의하여 계산한 값과 차이가 날 가능성이 있다. 이 연구는 이러한 중두개와에 위치한 병변의 치료시 골에 의한 흡수 선량의 감소에 대한 검증을 위하여 시행하였다. 대상 및 방법 : Alderson Rando phantom (이하 인체 모형 판톰-human phantom-이라 명명)의 두개골 부위에 4개의 핀에 의해 Leksell stereotactoc frame을 고정시키고 뇌단층 촬영을 시행하였다. 뇌 단층 촬영 상에 뇌하수체 종양과 청신경 초종(acoustic neurimona)에 해당되는 각각의 지점을 정한 후 먼저 뇌하수체 지점에 인체 모형 판톰의 모양에 맞게 자른 코닥 X-omat V 필름을 사이에 넣고 인체 모형 판톰을 잘 고정한 후에 14 mm 조준기 (collimator)를 부착하여 방사선을 조사하였다. 한 지점당 3회 반복 시행하였다. 18 mm 조준기를 이용하여 동일한 방법으로 3회 반복 시행하였다. 두 번째 지점인 청신경 초종 지점에 필름을 넣은 뒤 첫 번째와 동일한 방법으로 14 mm 조준기와 18 mm 조준기를 사용하여 각각 3회 반복 시행하였다. 동일한 실험 조건으로 균일한 밀도로 이루어진 16 cm 지름의 구형 폴리스티렌 판톰 내에 폴리스티렌 카세트에 맞는 필름을 삽입하여 14 mm, 18 mm 조준기 각각에 대하여 방사선 조사를 시행하였으며 이 과정을 3회 반복 시행하였다. 이후 필름들을 현상하여 VXR-12 필름 광학 측정기를 이용하여 등선량 곡선을 얻는다. 여기서 얻어진 등선량 곡선 (isodose curve)을 기초로 하여 off axis ratio 곡선을 얻었다. 결과 : 중두개와에 위치한 병소에 대하여 감마 나이프를 이용한 방사선 조사를 시행할 때 골에 의한 흡수 선량 감소는 뇌하수체 종양 지점이 청신경 초종 지점보다 많이 나타났으며 (0.2-3.0 mm vs. 0.1-1.3 mm) 조준기 크기에 따라 14 mm 조준기일 경우가 18 mm 조준기보다 더 많은 흡수 선량 감소 (0.4-3.0 mm vs. 0.2-2.2 mm)를 보였다. 결론 : 흡수 전량 감소가 실제 임상에서 치료 계획을 세우는데 있어서는 큰 영향을 미치지 않는 범위 내 (1 mm)에서 일어남으로 골에 의한 흡수 선량 감소를 고려하여 치료계획을 조정해야 할 필요는 없을 것으로 생각된다.