# Isolated Suprasellar Chordoma Mimicking Pituitary Adenoma: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A rare case of a young woman with a suprasellar chordoma mistaken for a pituitary adenoma highlights diagnostic challenges and the need for careful differential diagnosis.

## Contribution

This case report adds a rare instance of a young female with a suprasellar chordoma, expanding awareness of its atypical presentation.

## Key findings

- A 20-year-old female presented with headaches and visual disturbances due to a suprasellar chordoma.
- MRI findings initially suggested a pituitary adenoma, but histopathology confirmed chordoma.
- The case highlights the importance of considering chordoma in differential diagnosis of sellar masses in young patients.

## Abstract

Chordomas are uncommon neoplasms predominantly observed in adult males, typically middle-aged. These tumors present with diverse clinical features, including headaches, cranial neuropathies, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Surgical intervention is often complex due to tumor location or postresection reconstruction requirements, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach for optimal management. The report describes an atypical case of a 20-year-old female patient presenting with persistent headaches and visual disturbances. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large sellar/suprasellar mass initially suggestive of a pituitary adenoma. Following surgical excision, histopathological analysis confirmed a chordoma. This report emphasizes the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of suprasellar chordomas, which may radiologically mimic common sellar lesions. The case underscores the importance of including chordoma in the differential diagnosis of sellar/suprasellar masses, especially in younger patients with visual impairment and headache.