Research Article

Clinical, biochemical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics of large and giant sellar masses: a single-centre study

Volume: 7 Number: 4 August 15, 2026

Clinical, biochemical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics of large and giant sellar masses: a single-centre study

Abstract

Aims: Large and giant sellar masses are uncommon but clinically important lesions. We aimed to describe the clinical, biochemical, radiological, and histopathological features of patients with a sellar mass ≥30 mm and to examine differences by gender and age. Methods: In this single-centre, retrospective study, we screened 5,142 contrast-enhanced pituitary magnetic resonance imaging reports belonging to 3,414 patients evaluated between December 2021 and December 2024. Patients aged ≥18 years with a sellar mass ≥30 mm in maximum diameter were included. Clinical, biochemical, radiological, and histopathological data were collected and analysed. Results: Seventy-two patients were included (40 male, 32 female; mean age 55.4±14.4 years). The median maximum diameter was 34.0 (30.0-55.0) mm. Optic chiasm compression (81.9%), cavernous sinus invasion (79.2%), and sphenoid sinus invasion (54.2%) were frequent. Half of the patients (50.0%) had at least one anterior pituitary hormone deficiency, and 22.2% had panhypopituitarism. Thirteen tumours (18.1%) were functioning, most often causing acromegaly. Pituitary adenoma was the dominant histopathological diagnosis (90.3%), and gonadotroph adenomas predominated (69.6%). Male had larger tumours than female, by both maximum diameter (38.0 vs 34.0 mm; p=0.007) and volume (14.3 vs 10.5 cm³; p=0.002). Functioning tumours were more common in younger patients (p=0.024), whereas sphenoid sinus invasion was more frequent with advancing age (p=0.002). Conclusion: Large and giant sellar masses are usually invasive, compress the optic chiasm, and are accompanied by hypopituitarism in half. Most are non-functioning gonadotroph adenomas. Male present with larger tumors, and functioning tumors cluster in younger patients. These findings support a thorough hormonal and radiological work-up at diagnosis.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None.

Ethical Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. It was approved by the Ankara Bilkent City Hospital ethics commitee (Date: 22.01.2025, No: 2-25-836).

References

  1. Kostopoulos G, Makri ES, Divaris E, Efstathiadou ZA. Sellar lesions: novel aspects in diagnosis and management. Cancers (Basel). 2026;18(6): 1029. doi:10.3390/cancers18061029
  2. Iglesias P, Arcano K, Triviño V, et al. Giant non-functioning pituitary adenoma: clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2021;129(04):309-313. doi:10.1055/a-1017-3288
  3. Makarenko S, Alzahrani I, Karsy M, Deopujari C, Couldwell WT. Outcomes and surgical nuances in management of giant pituitary adenomas: a review of 108 cases in the endoscopic era. J Neurosurg. 2022;137(3):635-646. doi:10.3171/2021.10.JNS21659
  4. Gaillard S, Adeniran S, Villa C, et al. Outcome of giant pituitary tumors requiring surgery. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:975560. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.975560
  5. Carretti AL, Kaparounaki C, Raverot G. Aggressive and malignant pituitary tumours: does the sex matter? Pituitary. 2026;29(2):48. doi:10.1007/s11102-026-01656-y
  6. Dzialach L, Sobolewska J, Zak Z, Respondek W, Witek P. Prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas: male-specific differences in pathogenesis, clinical presentation and treatment. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024; 15:1338345. doi:10.3389/fendo.2024.1338345
  7. Ko C-C, Chang C-H, Chen T-Y, et al. Solid tumor size for prediction of recurrence in large and giant non-functioning pituitary adenomas. Neurosurg Rev. 2022;45(2):1401-1411. doi:10.1007/s10143-021-01662-7
  8. Iglesias P, Rodríguez Berrocal V, Díez JJ. Giant pituitary adenoma: histological types, clinical features and therapeutic approaches. Endocrine. 2018;61(3):407-421. doi:10.1007/s12020-018-1645-x

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Endocrinology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 15, 2026

Submission Date

June 22, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 19, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 4

APA
Köroğlu, E. Y., Saçıkara, M., Özdemir, D., Nasıroğlu İmga, N., Topaloğlu, O., Ersoy, R., & Çakır, B. (2026). Clinical, biochemical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics of large and giant sellar masses: a single-centre study. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, 7(4), 772-776. https://izlik.org/JA32EX52TF
AMA
1.Köroğlu EY, Saçıkara M, Özdemir D, et al. Clinical, biochemical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics of large and giant sellar masses: a single-centre study. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7(4):772-776. https://izlik.org/JA32EX52TF
Chicago
Köroğlu, Ekin Yiğit, Muhammed Saçıkara, Didem Özdemir, et al. 2026. “Clinical, Biochemical, Radiological, and Histopathological Characteristics of Large and Giant Sellar Masses: A Single-Centre Study”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 (4): 772-76. https://izlik.org/JA32EX52TF.
EndNote
Köroğlu EY, Saçıkara M, Özdemir D, Nasıroğlu İmga N, Topaloğlu O, Ersoy R, Çakır B (August 1, 2026) Clinical, biochemical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics of large and giant sellar masses: a single-centre study. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 4 772–776.
IEEE
[1]E. Y. Köroğlu et al., “Clinical, biochemical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics of large and giant sellar masses: a single-centre study”, J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 772–776, Aug. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA32EX52TF
ISNAD
Köroğlu, Ekin Yiğit - Saçıkara, Muhammed - Özdemir, Didem - Nasıroğlu İmga, Narin - Topaloğlu, Oya - Ersoy, Reyhan - Çakır, Bekir. “Clinical, Biochemical, Radiological, and Histopathological Characteristics of Large and Giant Sellar Masses: A Single-Centre Study”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7/4 (August 1, 2026): 772-776. https://izlik.org/JA32EX52TF.
JAMA
1.Köroğlu EY, Saçıkara M, Özdemir D, Nasıroğlu İmga N, Topaloğlu O, Ersoy R, Çakır B. Clinical, biochemical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics of large and giant sellar masses: a single-centre study. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7:772–776.
MLA
Köroğlu, Ekin Yiğit, et al. “Clinical, Biochemical, Radiological, and Histopathological Characteristics of Large and Giant Sellar Masses: A Single-Centre Study”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, vol. 7, no. 4, Aug. 2026, pp. 772-6, https://izlik.org/JA32EX52TF.
Vancouver
1.Ekin Yiğit Köroğlu, Muhammed Saçıkara, Didem Özdemir, Narin Nasıroğlu İmga, Oya Topaloğlu, Reyhan Ersoy, Bekir Çakır. Clinical, biochemical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics of large and giant sellar masses: a single-centre study. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 1;7(4):772-6. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA32EX52TF

TR DİZİN ULAKBİM and International Indexes (1d)

Interuniversity Board (UAK) Equivalency: Article published in Ulakbim TR Index journal [10 POINTS], and Article published in other (excuding 1a, b, c) international indexed journal (1d) [5 POINTS]
 


 

download?token=eyJhdXRoX3JvbGVzIjpbXSwiZW5kcG9pbnQiOiJqb3VybmFsIiwib3JpZ2luYWxuYW1lIjoiVHJfSW5kZXhfbG9nby5wbmciLCJwYXRoIjoiN2EzMC84NTVhL2UyMWMvNjlkZjRkZmVhNTUyNTYuNzg3NjU2ODgucG5nIiwiZXhwIjoxNzc2MjQ1Nzc0LCJub25jZSI6IjU0MDZkMWE2NmE1Y2QwZTJjNGYyNDA1OTM2MTE0YWIxIn0.Tt-WScFXTj5r2jji5eDMFApNzujLMjMPl8ivXRbozSI



f9ab67f.png
asos-index.png


 


download?token=eyJhdXRoX3JvbGVzIjpbXSwiZW5kcG9pbnQiOiJqb3VybmFsIiwib3JpZ2luYWxuYW1lIjoiQ3Jvc3NyZWYuanBnIiwicGF0aCI6IjAzMzEvMTdkZi8yN2ZkLzY5ZGY0ZThhMDZkMjg0LjQxMjAyNDg5LmpwZyIsImV4cCI6MTc3NjI0NTkxNCwibm9uY2UiOiI2NjM1Yjc5MWFiY2I1MDQ0NjkzMTAxMDhjY2Y2NzRlMCJ9.5jDQBEY-KErkDK1QjDmv9ichOkNIn5CWYibe1Wz1644
icmje_1_orig.png
 
cc.logo.large.png
 
ncbi.png
 
google-scholar.pngpn6krf5.jpg
 


 

Our journal is in TR-Dizin, DRJI (Directory of Research Journals Indexing, General Impact Factor, Google Scholar, Researchgate, CrossRef (DOI), ROAD, ASOS Index, Turk Medline Index, Eurasian Scientific Journal Index (ESJI), and Turkiye Citation Index.

EBSCO, DOAJ, OAJI and ProQuest Index are in process of evaluation. 

 

Journal articles are evaluated as "Double-Blind Peer Review"