Saudi Journal of Medicine (SJM)
Volume-11 | | Issue-02 | 70-74
Case Report
Collision of Craniopharyngioma and Pituitary Adenoma: A Rare Case-Report for a Challenging Neuroendocrine Condition
Malad Mohamed, Riznat Malak, Tadlaoui Abderrahman, Srifi Hajar, Issouani Jade, Guerboub Ahmed Anas
Published : Feb. 6, 2026
Abstract
Collision tumors are defined as ≥2 histologically distinct tumors existing in the same anatomic location. Generally, collision tumors are rare, and if they occur in the sellar region, common combinations are pituitary adenoma with Rathke cleft cyst (most common), however the association of pituitary tumors with hypopthalamic tumors remains extremely rare. We report in an observation the case of a pituitary adenoma diagnosed after 5 years of a surgical cure of a craniopharyngioma. Although described in a few observations through the medical literature, it is an extremely rare condition illustrating the possibility of having 2 different neoplasias, within the hypothalamic-pituitary region. The chronology of the appearance of the 2 histological entities (or more than 2) is decisive first on a semantic level, this then allowing to better classify into one of collision, composite, or in coexistence forms. The management of these tumors of the pituitary region involves effective surgery but also a good endocrine evaluation in order to treat pituitary hormone deficiencies, sometimes with a vital prognosis (replacement with corticosteroids and thyroxin), or functional (GH, sexual steroids and gonadotrophins). The prognosis of these tumors that occurred in a collision mode remains less good compared to solitary tumors of the hypothalamic and hypopjhyseal region.