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Masses of the Sellar and Junxtasellar Region

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Abstract

Tumors of the sellar and junxtasellar regions are common, accounting for in excess of 10–15% of all intracranial tumors [1]. Although the majority of these are benign tumors, mostly pituitary adenomas, they can account for significant morbidity and a shortened life expectancy. Pituitary adenomas are the most common sellar and suprasellar masses in adults, with meningiomas being the second most common. In children, craniopharyngiomas and chiasmatic/hypothalamic gliomas account for the vast majority of lesions in this region. Adenomas, meningiomas, craniopharyngiomas, chiasmatic/hypothalamic gliomas, and aneurysms account for 75% of sellar and junxtasellar masses [2]. Although the focus of our discussion is tumors, some nonneoplastic entities are discussed, since these can be difficult to distinguish from tumors and must be differentiated, since the treatment approach can be very different.

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Bourekas, E.C., Slone, H.W., Ray-Chaudhury, A. (2011). Masses of the Sellar and Junxtasellar Region. In: Drevelegas, A. (eds) Imaging of Brain Tumors with Histological Correlations. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-87650-2_12

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