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Hypophyseal metastases: A report of three cases and literature review
Affiliations- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Ears, Nose and Throat, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Endocrinology, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Oncology, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
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Abstract
Metastatic tumours to the pituitary gland are rare. The most frequent are metastases from breast and lung. We describe three patients with metastatic tumours: (I) a 54-year-old patient with metastatic renal clear-cell carcinoma and consequent disturbances in visual acuity, cranial nerve paresis and panhypopituitarism, (II) a 60-year-old patient with a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with panhypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus and (III) a 57-year-old patient with metastasis of breast cancer and panhypopituitarism, visual impairment and cranial nerve paresis. A transnasal endoscopic biopsy and resection of the tumour was performed in all patients, followed by the oncological treatment. Despite the rarity of the disease, it is important to suspect a metastatic pituitary tumour especially in the case of diabetes insipidus, ophthalmoplegia, rapid course of the disease and headaches. In 20–30% of patients, a metastasis to the pituitary is the first manifestation of a tumour of unknown origin. Surgical and adjuvant therapy may improve the quality of life. The survival is not affected, however, and the prognosis of the disease is usually poor.
Abstract
Metastatic tumours to the pituitary gland are rare. The most frequent are metastases from breast and lung. We describe three patients with metastatic tumours: (I) a 54-year-old patient with metastatic renal clear-cell carcinoma and consequent disturbances in visual acuity, cranial nerve paresis and panhypopituitarism, (II) a 60-year-old patient with a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with panhypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus and (III) a 57-year-old patient with metastasis of breast cancer and panhypopituitarism, visual impairment and cranial nerve paresis. A transnasal endoscopic biopsy and resection of the tumour was performed in all patients, followed by the oncological treatment. Despite the rarity of the disease, it is important to suspect a metastatic pituitary tumour especially in the case of diabetes insipidus, ophthalmoplegia, rapid course of the disease and headaches. In 20–30% of patients, a metastasis to the pituitary is the first manifestation of a tumour of unknown origin. Surgical and adjuvant therapy may improve the quality of life. The survival is not affected, however, and the prognosis of the disease is usually poor.
Keywords
Pituitary tumour, Metastases, Renal cell carcinoma, Lymphoma, Breast cancer
About this articleTitle
Hypophyseal metastases: A report of three cases and literature review
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
511-516
Page views
717
Article views/downloads
785
DOI
10.1016/j.pjnns.2016.08.007
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2016;50(6):511-516.
Keywords
Pituitary tumour
Metastases
Renal cell carcinoma
Lymphoma
Breast cancer
Authors
Janez Ravnik
Tomaz Smigoc
Gorazd Bunc
Bostjan Lanisnik
Ursa Ksela
Maja Ravnik
Tomaz Velnar
