Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis of pregnancy simulating a pituitary adenoma: a distinct pathological entity

Abstract

Diffuse lymphocytic infiltration of the adenohypophysis occurring in temporal relation to pregnancy was found in two patients, each of whom had an intrasellar mass with suprasellar extension that caused compression of the optic chiasm. The pathology and etiology of this lesion is discussed. This entity should be considered when evaluating patients with a pituitary mass lesion that presents in temporal association to pregnancy, particularly if there is evidence of hypopituitarism rather than a hypersecreting, endocrine-active adenoma.