Differential diagnosis of sellar masses

Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1999 Mar;28(1):81-117, vi. doi: 10.1016/s0889-8529(05)70058-x.

Abstract

The differential diagnosis of nonpituitary sellar masses is broad; differentiating among potential etiologies may not always be straightforward because many of these lesions, tumorous and nontumorous, may mimic the clinical, endocrinologic, and radiologic presentations of pituitary adenomas. This article provides an overview of the clinical and radiographic characteristics of both pituitary tumors and the nonpituitary lesions found in the sellar/parasellar region and discusses, in detail, the specific nonpituitary origins of the sellar masses.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / diagnosis*
  • Adenoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Sella Turcica / diagnostic imaging
  • Sella Turcica / pathology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed