Hydrocephalus caused by giant pituitary tumors: case series and guidelines for management

Abstract

Giant pituitary adenomas causing hydrocephalus are rare (Scarone P, Losa M, Mortini P, Giovanelli M. J Neurooncol 2006;76:51–4; Zikel OM, Atkinson JL, Hurley DL. Mayo Clinical Proc 1999;74:475–7). Guidelines for management of this rare condition are missing. Here we present a five-case series collected over 22 years. We suggest that where the two conditions coexist, the safest option is to insert an external ventricular drain prior to any definitive surgical intervention.

Key words:

• Giant pituitary tumor
• hydrocephalus
• management