Findings on Pneumoencephalogram of Sellar and Suprasellar tumor cases

Abstract

The lateral projections of pneumoencephalograms were studied in controls and sellar and suprasellar tumor cases, with the reference points at the tuberculum sellae, foramen Monroi, dorsum sellae, the entrance of the aqueduct and tips of the third ventricle. In the 20 control cases, the anterior part of the third ventricle always stayed within the angle made by tuberculum sellae-foramen Monroi and tuberculum sellaeaqueduct. In chromophobe adenomas with suprasellar extension, craniopharyngiomas and pinealomas in the chiasmal region, was the anterior part of the third ventricle was indented superiorly and also anteriorly. In tuberculum sellae meningiomas was the anterior part of the third ventricle showed characteristic change of posterior displacement like pendulum. Chromophobe adenoma cases with abnormally high blood levels of prolactin showed larger deformity of sella turcica and the third ventricle than non-functioning chromophobe adenoma. After treatment of chromophobe adenoma with suprasellar extension the third ventricle with significant deformity tended to normalize on pneumoencephalogram. © 1976, The Japan Neurosurgical Society. All rights reserved.