Prolactinoma associated with an ependymoma in the fourth ventricle: A case report and review of the literature

Pituitary adenoma associated with ependymoma in the fourth ventricle is a rare condition. In the present study, a 46-year-old man diagnosed with prolactinoma, who previously underwent two surgical procedures (one for the removal of a primary tumor and a second following its recurrence) developed a complication of ependymoma in the fourth ventricle. The presence of the ependymoma was confirmed by pathological analysis and the patient recovered well following two-phase surgical resection of the two tumors. The present study compared the probable cause of concurrent pituitary adenoma and ependymoma within the fourth ventricle with previous relevant studies. These comparisons were used to propose possible genomic and endocrine contributions for the development of the ependymoma from the pituitary adenoma.