Ectopic Prolactinoma in the Clivus

Abstract

Background: Ectopic pituitary adenomas are rare. Only 29 cases are reported in the literature. The clivus was involved in some cases but sella turcica was occasionally involved.

Clinical Presentation : Headache was the first symptom of a 47-year-old woman. Radiological examination diagnosed a clivus tumour. No connection with the pituitary gland was observed. Pre-operative diagnosis was metastasis of an unknown cancer.

Intervention : By a transphenoidal approach, we removed a haemorrhagic tumour. No connection between the normal pituitary gland and the tumour was observed. Neuropathological analysis showed a prolactinoma.

Conclusion : We report a rare case of an ectopic prolactinoma in the clivus unrelated to the pituitary gland. Only one other case has been reported in the literature.

Key Words:

• Ectopic tumour
• clivus
• pituitary neoplasm
• sella turcica