Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage with incidental carotid dolichoectasia mimicking sellar mass

Discussion:

The case demonstrates multiple subdural, subarachnoid and parenchymal contusion hemorrhages with an incidental expansile sellar mass-like lesion, macroadenoma was suggested as a working diagnosis. However, subsequent CTA confirmed it as a result of bilateral extensive carotid dolichoectasia and aneurysms. 

It is also a good example of reader fatigue and the perils of the satisfaction of search phenomenon since there is simultaneously a multitude of acute, neoplastic, and chronic pathologies present. The pituitary pseudolesion also illustrates anchoring bias

Key take home message: we should train ourselves to increase, or at least maintain our alertness when we encounter significant pathology. 

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