Work

A very rare case of pituitary metastasis infiltrating a non-secretory gonadotroph adenoma

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Pituitary adenomas are the commonest sellar tumours. Pituitary metastases are very rare, with the most common primaries being breast and lung cancers. We report the case of an 83-year-old man with a history of breast carcinoma who presented with recent-onset headaches and progressive deterioration of visual acuity. MRI brain showed a large sellar and suprasellar mass compressing the optic chiasm and involving the pituitary stalk. Transsphenoidal debulking resulted in symptomatic relief and visual recovery. Specimen examination revealed a combination of a gonadotroph pituitary adenoma that was infiltrated by metastatic breast carcinoma. He had no symptoms of diabetes insipidus. He was subsequently treated with pituitary radiotherapy. This is a very rare presentation of a pituitary mass with mixed pathology. To our knowledge, this is the third description of a breast carcinoma metastasis into a gonadotroph cell pituitary adenoma. Learning points: Infiltrating metastases into pituitary adenomas are very rare but do occur. To our knowledge this is the third case of breast adenocarcinoma metastasising to a gonadotroph pituitary adenoma. Pituitary metastases should always be considered in rapidly evolving pituitary symptoms in a cancer patient. Not all complex pituitary lesions are associated with panhypopituitarism. Early invasive local management (TSS and post TSS radiotherapy) can provide rapid satisfactory outcomes.

Source: Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism Case Reports

DOI: 10.1530/edm-20-0094