Recurrent Meningitis Revealing Primitive Pituitary Abscess: A Case Report

Background: pituitary abscess is rare and potentially life-threatening condition. Few pediatric cases were described with similar adult presentation. PA shares many clinical and imaging similarities with other pituitary lesions making the diagnosis challenging.We sought to report a pediatric case of PA presenting with recurrent meningitis and mimicking a pituitary macroadenoma

Case presentation: A 10 years-old girl previously healthy was admitted on 3 occasions over a year for meningitic signs and fever. Lumbar puncture concluded to aseptic meningitis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-defined intrasellar space occupying lesion, suggestive of macroadenoma. The patient was free of symptoms in between but developed diabetes insipidus. The diagnosis was established per operatively. She developed a panhypopituitarism after a transsphenoidal drainage.

Discussion/Conclusion: This case illustrates a challenging clinical and radiological presentation of a pituitary abscess in a pediatric case without apparent risk factors. PA presents rarely with recurrent meningitis and the diagnosis was achieved operatively. The long term prognosis is conditioned by the pituitary deficiency.