Abstract
Ectopic pituitary adenoma of the sphenoid sinus is rarely encountered by general physicians and otolaryngologists. Recently this disease has been identified using CT, MRI, and other imaging examinations. Ectopic pituitary adenomas of the sphenoid sinus are considered to be benign and slow-growing with mild or no symptoms. On the other hand, primary sphenoidal carcinoma is also a rare disease, the chief complaint for which is usually headache or nasal bleeding as a result of invasion around the organs. CT and MRI imaging cannot differentiate sphenoidal carcimona from ectopic pituitary adenomas of the sphenoid sinus. A diagnosis of ectopic pituitary adenoma of the sphenoid sinus may be suspected when a patient has slight complaints such as slight headache, regardless of the findings of imaging examinations. Histological examinations are necessary for the differential diagnosis of the ectopic pituitary adenomas of the sphenoid sinus and sphenoidal carcimona. The prognosis of an ectopic pituitary adenomas of the sphenoid sinus is good if the adenomas are removed by surgery.
