The association of meningioma and pituitary adenoma: report of seven cases and review of the literature.

Seven patients with the co-occurrence of meningioma and pituitary adenoma are reported. Diagnosis was based on histological examination and if not available on MR imaging. Extensive review of the literature reveals only 18 other cases with this association if meningiomas appearing after radiation therapy for pituitary tumors are excluded. As in isolated meningiomas, the female-to-male ratio is high. A preponderance of perisellar meningiomas is apparent. Another distinct characteristic of this combination is not revealed, since no specific typing of the meningioma and no specific endocrine syndrome is uncovered. Two patients presented with multiple meningiomas, of which one showed two histologically different tumor types. The presence of other tumors in association with pituitary adenomas and meningiomas in our series is striking and could suggest a genetic dysregulation leading to the development of these tumors.