Abstract
Introduction
In this short illustrated review, we present the case of a frontal lobe schwannoma without cranial nerve or sellar attachment and a sellar schwannoma which mimicked a pituitary adenoma.
Literature review
We review the rare occurrence of sellar region schwannomas, their clinical presentation, operative management, outcomes, and the possible pathogenesis.
Analysis
The absence of Schwann cells in the central nervous system and the absence of neighboring cranial nerves in these two cases raise issues of the pathogenesis of these rare but curious lesions.
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Acknowledgment
The authors thank MS Cristina Lucarini (BA) for her assistance in gathering the clinical information.
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This is a nice and exhaustive report about a sporadic pathological condition of the sellar area, i.e., sellar region schwannomas. Even if not strictly original—having had similar contributions already presented in the main literature—the manuscript is really complete about all the diagnostic, technical, and pathological aspects of such tumors that are herewith clearly outlined. And the rare presence of schwannomas among the non-primary pituitary neoplasms of the sellar area is definitely worth to be considered and understood by those interested in this rich and complex neurosurgical region.
Paolo Cappabianca
Naples, Italy
Schwannomas are a recognized rarity in the pituitary fossa, and this review discuses the progress of two such cases.
Michael Powell
London, UK
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Mohammed, S., Kovacs, K., Munoz, D. et al. A short illustrated review of sellar region schwannomas. Acta Neurochir 152, 885–891 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-009-0527-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-009-0527-7