Neurosarcoidosis (pituitary gland involvement)
Presentation
Shortness of breath and lymphadenopathy.
Patient Data
CT Neck and Chest
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Apart from prominent and nonspecific submandibular lymph nodes, the remainder of the neck lymph nodes are not abnormally enlarged and do not have suspicious imaging features.
There are prominent mediastinal and bilateral hilar lymph nodes, as well as a few scattered pulmonary centrilobular nodules. There are no features of interstitial involvement.
There is an enhancing mass involving the sella and suprasellar region.
Ultrasound guided submandibular lymph node core biopsy
MRI Pituitary
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The pituitary gland and its infundibulum are diffusely and homogeneously enlarged and demonstrate intense enhancement. No pituitary suprasellar extension is noted. The enlarged infundibulum compresses the optic chiasm inferiorly, and mild oedema is seen proximally in the chiasm. Mildly restricted diffusion is observed within the infundibulum. No signs of cavernous sinus invasion.
MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION: Chronically inflamed and fibrotic salivary gland parenchyma with a single non-necrotising granuloma. No mycobacteria are identified.
DIAGNOSIS:
Chronic fibrosing sialadenitis and non-necrotising granulomatous inflammation. Features suggestive of sarcoidosis.
MYCOBACTERIAL INVESTIGATIONS
Left submandibular lymph node core biopsy
MICROSCOPY Auramine-Rhodamine stain: No acid fast bacilli detected
MYCOBACTERIUM CULTURE SCREEN MGIT bottle: <56 days negative
MYCOBACTERIAL CULTURE: No growth after 8 weeks
MRI Pituitary (one year later)
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When compared to the previous MRI, the thickened homogeneously enhancing pituitary infundibulum has reduced in size and the pituitary gland does not have a bulky appearance anymore. The cavernous sinuses have a normal appearance. No abnormal region of restricted diffusion. No hydrocephalus.
Case Discussion
This case illustrates presumed neurosarcoidosis involvement of the pituitary gland and pituitary stalk that improved after corticosteroid treatment for sarcoidosis.
There were no other signs of neurosarcoidosis on another full brain MRI performed in between the two scans above, not shown in this case. Other brain pathologies that are commonly described in neurosarcoidosis are periventricular lesions and leptomeningeal enhancement.
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