Incidentalomas hipofisarios

Pituitary incidentalomas (PI) are defined as pituitary masses that are incidentally found when cranial computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are performed to study an unrelated condition. In studies of unselected autopsies it has been estimated that up to 10% of men and women harbour pituitary tumors that were not suspected while the individuals were alive. The differential diagnosis of PI is wide, but pituitary microadenomas and cystic lesions are the most common causes of PI in autopsy series. There are few data about the natural course of PI but it is thought that significant mass enlargement is not usual during follow-up. The optimal management strategy for patients with PI, taking into account the cost-benefit ratio, remains to be determined.