Intracavernous Carotid Aneurysm Mimicking Pituitary Adenoma: An Insidious Surgical Trap

Intracavernous internal carotid artery aneurysms can extend into the sella and simulate pituitary adenomas. Correct radiological differential diagnosis is fundamental. When treating intrasellar masses at the slightest suspicion of a nonpituitary origin, further workup should be considered. The possibility of a vascular lesion simulating a pituitary adenoma should always be evaluated by neurosurgeons and ear, nose, and throat surgeons operating in the sellar region. We report a case of intracavernous carotid aneurysm mimicking a pituitary adenoma and emphasize the need for a critical neuroradiological evaluation for correct diagnosis and to avoid a potentially life-threatening situation. Keywords: Carotid aneurysm; Pituitary adenoma; Differential diagnosis; Transsphenoidal endoscopic approach