Table of Contents
What is a Suprasellar brain tumor?
Suprasellar meningioma arises from the base of the skull near the pituitary gland and the optic nerve. Tumors in this area can cause visual problems and dysfunction of the pituitary gland.
What part of the brain is the Suprasellar?
The suprasellar cistern is a cerebrospinal fluid filled space between the top of the pituitary and bottom of the hypothalamus. The pituitary stalk normally courses through this space to enter the pituitary gland and is critical for the normal operation of the pituitary.
Where is the Suprasellar?
Location. The suprasellar cistern is located above the sella turcica, under the hypothalamus and between the uncus of the temporal lobes. It has roughly the shape of a pentagon at the level of the optic chiasma, and of a six-point star at the level of cerebral peduncles.
What is sella and suprasellar region?
The sellar region includes the sella turcica and the pituitary gland, together with the ventral adenohypophysis and dorsal neurohypophysis. The parasellar region encompasses the cavernous sinuses, suprasellar cistern, hypothalamus, and ventral inferior third ventricle.
What is Suprasellar extension?
Hardy’s classification of the suprasellar extension of pituitary adenomas uses the relationship of the superior capsule of the tumor with the third ventricle and takes into account asymmetric extension in the coronal plane [4].
What causes meningioma tumors?
The cause of meningiomas is not known. Exposure to radiation, especially in childhood, is the only known environmental risk factor for developing meningiomas. People who have a genetic condition, called neurofibromatosis type 2, are at increased risk for developing meningiomas.
Does a pituitary tumor shorten life expectancy?
Having a pituitary tumor should not shorten life expectancy if it is treated properly and if the patient receives appropriate hormone replacement(s).
What is considered a large pituitary tumor?
Large pituitary tumors — those measuring about 1 centimeter (slightly less than a half-inch) or larger — are known as macroadenomas. Smaller tumors are called microadenomas. Because of the size of macroadenomas, they can put pressure on the normal pituitary gland and nearby structures.
What is a suprasellar tumor?
Suprasellar Tumors Suprasellar masses are neoplastic, vascular, congenital, or infectious/inflammatory in origin. Suprasellar masses present with a variety of neurologic or endocrine dysfunctions depending on their site of origin and mass effect on adjacent structures.
What are pituitary tumors?
Pituitary tumors are abnormal growths that develop in your pituitary gland. Some pituitary tumors result in too much of the hormones that regulate important functions of your body. Some pituitary tumors can cause your pituitary gland to produce lower levels of hormones. Most pituitary tumors are noncancerous (benign) growths (adenomas).
What causes progressive enlargement of pituitary macroadenomas?
Progressive enlargement of pituitary macroadenomas may extend in a suprasellar direction, in part, as a consequence of the sphenoid sinus anatomy. Certain aspects of the sphenoid sinus anatomy may function to resist pituitary tumor growth into the sphenoid sinus.
What are the different types of suprasellar cistern disorders?
There are many different disorders that can involve the suprasellar cistern including benign and malignant tumors, metastatic disease, cysts, abscesses, infiltrative and inflammatory processes, aneurysms, harmatomas and an ectopic posterior pituitary.