Pituitary metastasis of lung neuroendocrine carcinoma: case report and literature review

SUMMARY Metastasis to the pituitary gland is an unusual situation in clinical practice, but the frequency thereof is increasing due to the increased survival of cancer patients, and greater availability of imaging. In most cases, they are found between the sixth and seventh decades of life, as determined in image examination of patients with known malignant neoplasm, but, generally, asymptomatic with respect to pituitary involvement. The most common primary sites are breast in women and lung in men. We present the case of a 64-year-old patient with clinical visual changes, polyuria, polydipsia, and decreased level of consciousness whose tests showed pan-hypopituitarism, hypernatremia and low urine specific gravity, and extensive mass in sellar region. Diabetes insipidus was confirmed and treated, corticotrophic and thyroid deficits were corrected and then the patient underwent resection by transsphenoidal surgery. The histopathological and immunohistochemistry analysis revealed pituitary metastasis of lung neuroendocrine tumor. Subsequently, a chest CT scan showed pulmonary mass consistent with primary neoplasm. Despite the water and electrolyte correction and intravenous glucocorticoid replacement, the patient continued to show decreased level of consciousness due to compression of the brain stem by the pituitary mass, evolving to death. The purpose is to call attention to the differential diagnosis of invasive lesions of the sellar region, mainly in individuals over 50 years and/or when associated with diabetes insipidus, as it may be a case of metastasis, although there is no known primary neoplasm. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2015;59(6):548-53.

Breast cancer metastasis to the pituitary gland / Metástase de câncer de mama para a hipófise

Metastatic tumors to the pituitary gland are an unusual complication typically seen in elderly patients with diffuse malignant disease. Breast and lung are the commonest sites of the primary tumor. Prognosis of patients with breast cancer metastasis is poor and depends on the primary neoplastic extension. We report a 54 year-old woman with breast cancer metastasis to the pituitary stalk first diagnosed because of visual disturbance with no other symptoms. Pituitary gland stalk metastasis is a very uncommon find and this case report includes a literature review.

Os tumores hipofisários malignos são raros e geralmente se constituem de metástases de neoplasias disseminadas. Câncer de mama e pulmão são os sítios primários mais frequentes e o prognóstico depende do grau de comprometimento da doença. Este é o relato do caso de uma mulher de 54 anos que apresentou uma lesão tumoral restrita à haste hipofisária, que se revelou como metástase do câncer de mama previamente conhecido. O acometimento da haste hipofisária é muito raro, motivo pelo qual descrevemos o caso com a revisão da literatura específica.

Dos casos de metástasis hipofisarias como forma de presentación de un carcinoma microcítico de pulmón / Two cases of pituitary metastases as initial presentation form of small cell lung cancer

Las metástasis en la silla turca son raras y se encuentran en muchas ocasiones incidentalmente o en necropsias. Solo un 7% de los casos son sintomáticos. Las manifestaciones clínicas más frecuentes son la diabetes insípida, la clínica compresiva y los síntomas derivados de déficit hormonales de la adenohipófisis. Se presentan los casos de 2 varones con un carcinoma microcítico de pulmón cuya manifestación clínica inicial correspondía a afectación metastásica de la silla turca. Un caso debutó con invasión del seno cavernoso y panhipopituitarismo, y el otro con una diabetes insípida. Ambos casos presentaron una rápida progresión de su enfermedad neoplásica, con escasa respuesta al tratamiento sistémico en uno de los casos y fueron éxitus a los pocos meses. Las metástasis hipofisarias se presentan con mayor frecuencia en mujeres con cáncer de mama y hombres con neoplasias de pulmón. La presencia de poliuria y polidipsia en un paciente oncológico debe hacer sospechar una diabetes insípida, siendo necesario un estudio de imagen de la silla turca. El tratamiento de estos tumores incluye la cirugía, la radioterapia, la quimioterapia y el tratamiento hormonal sustitutivo. A pesar que el tratamiento quirúrgico no se ha asociado a un aumento de la supervivencia, algunos pacientes pueden mejorar su calidad de vida.

Metastases in the sellar region are rare and are frequently found incidentally or in necropsies. Only 7% are reported to be symptomatic. Diabetes insipidus, anterior pituitary dysfunction, visual field defects, headache/pain and ophthalmoplegia are the most commonly reported symptoms. We present the cases of two male patients with a small-cell lung carcinoma whose first clinical symptoms were due to pituitary metastasis. One case presented with symptoms of cavernous sinus invasion and panhypopituitarism and the other case with diabetes insipidus. Both patients had a rapid progression of their disease despite chemotherapy and died after a few months. Pituitary metastases occur most commonly with breast cancer in women and lung cancer in men. The presence of polyuria and polydipsia in an oncologic patient should alert the physician for diabetes insipidus and, if confirmed, an imaging procedure of the pituitary gland is mandatory. Treatment for these tumors is often multimodal and includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone replacement. Although surgical series have not shown any significant survival benefits given by tumor resection, the patient’s quality of life may be improved.

Pituitary gland metastasis from renal cell carcinoma presented as a non-functioning macroadenoma / Metástase de carcinoma de células renais para hipófise simulando macroadenoma não funcionante

Metastatic tumors involving the pituitary gland are an uncommon finding and occur in up to 1 percent of all pituitary tumor resections. A 74-year-old man had progressive vision deterioration, over the 30 days prior to consultation. He did not complain of headache or polyuria, but referred to intestinal constipation. Five years ago, he underwent a right radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy for lung and parotid metastases. On ophthalmologic examination, there was a left abducens nerve palsy and bitemporal hemianopia. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a sellar mass with suprasellar cistern extension compressing the optic chiasm. Endocrinological evaluation revealed central adrenal and gonadal insufficiencies. The patient underwent a transsphenoidal tumor resection that revealed renal cell carcinoma. This case illustrates that metastatic pituitary lesions can mimic typical symptoms and signs of pituitary macroadenoma. Furthermore, clinical diabetes insipidus, a common finding of pituitary metastases, can be absent.

Metástases de neoplasias para hipófise são incomuns e ocorrem em até 1 por cento dos tumores de hipófise. Apresentamos o caso de um homem de 74 anos de idade com progressiva deterioração visual nos 30 dias que antecederam seu atendimento. Ele negava cefaleia ou poliúria e queixava-se de constipação intestinal. O paciente havia sido submetido à nefrectomia radical para carcinoma de células renais cinco anos antes, seguida de quimioterapia e radioterapia por metástases pulmonares e parotídea. Ao exame oftalmológico, apresentava paralisia do nervo abducente esquerdo e hemianopsia bitemporal. A ressonância magnética demonstrou uma massa selar com extensão suprasselar comprimindo o quiasma óptico. Na avaliação endocrinológica apresentava insuficiência adrenal e gonadal centrais. O paciente foi submetido à ressecção transesfenoidal da lesão que, ao exame anatomopatológico, se revelou como carcinoma de células renais. Esse caso demonstra que a presença de lesões metastáticas na hipófise pode mimetizar sinais e sintomas de macroadenoma não funcionante e que o diabetes insípido central, comum nas lesões metastáticas para hipófise, pode estar ausente.

Metástasis hipofisaria / Hypophyseal metastasis

Los tumores metastásicos de la glándula hipofisaria son poco comunes. En su mayoría son lesiones silentes descubiertas accidentalmente en las autopsia. La aparición de metástasis sintomáticas es, en cambio, excepcional. Se describen aquí los hallazgos clínicos y radiológicos de una paciente femenina de 69 años, con un carcinoma indiferenciado del pulmón, diagnosticado hace 2 años y medio, que comenzó con cefalea y trastornos visuales sin hipopituitarismo ni diabetes insípida. Se le realizó resonancia magnética nuclear y se le diagnosticó una lesión hipofisaria, que fue operada por vía tranesfenoidal, y se informó por anatomía patológica una metástasis del carcinoma del pulmón. La paciente se encuentra en estos momentos recibiendo quimioterapia, radioterapia y anticuerpo monoclonal con evolución favorable(AU)

Metastatic tumors of hypophyseal gland are infrequent. Most are silent lesions discovered accidentally in necropsy. Appearance of symptomatic metastasis is however, exceptional. We describe here clinical and radiological findings in a female patient aged 69, presenting with a non-differential carcinoma of lung, diagnosed two years a half ago, starting with headache and visual disorders without hypopituitarism and insipidus diabetes. We made a nuclear magnetic resonance and diagnosis was a hypophyseal lesion operated on by trans-esphenoidal route, and Pathological Anatomy Service reports a metastasis of lung carcinoma. Patient receives chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and monoclonal antibody with a favorable evolution(AU)

Tumor de Pancoast con lesión hipofísiaria sincrónica / Pancoast tumor with synchronous hypofisiary lesion

Pancoast tumors represent a rare presentation of lung cancer. Their particular location delays diagnosis and makes resection difficult. Nevertheless recent advances in surgical techniques and multi-modality therapy (chemo-radiation followed by surgery) had increased resection rates and achieved long term survival. We present the case of a 62-year-old woman with an extensive Pancoast tumor and a synchronous hypofisiary lesion. We carried out an exhaustive staging workout determining that the infratentorial lesion was a hypofisiary adenoma. She underwent induction chemo-radiotherapy and posterior surgery. A complete resection was possible with prolonged survival and minimal functional disability. We present the evolution in management of Pancoast tumors and our approach to patients with suspicious metastases in potentially resectable tumors.

Los tumores de Pancoast representan una presentación poco frecuente de los cánceres pulmonares. Su particular localización retrasa el diagnóstico y dificulta su resección. En los últimos años se han realizado importantes avances en las técnicas quirúrgicas y se ha consolidado la terapia tri-modal en el manejo de estos pacientes mejorando su sobrevida. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 62 años con un extenso tumor de Pancoast y una lesión sincrónica hipofísiaria. Un exhaustivo estudio de diseminación permitió determinar que esta lesión era un adenoma hipofisiario. Se realizó quimio y radioterapia de inducción y posteriormente una resección completa del tumor, con una sobrevida prolongada sin secuelas funcionales. Se presenta la evolución del manejo de estos tumores y nuestra conducta en el enfrentamiento de posibles metástasis en tumores potencialmente curables.

Apoplejía en metástasis hipofisiaria de carcinoma de células renales: caso clínico con 7 años de seguimiento / Pituitary apoplexy secondary to a metastatic renal cell carcinoma: report of a case followed for 7 years

We report a man in whom a 15 cm. renal tumor was excised at the age of 49. The pathological examination showed a clear cell carcinoma. Five years later, he presented with headache, vomiting and unilateral palpebral ptosis. Imaging studies showed a sellar tumor with pituitary apoplexy. The tumor was excised and the pathological study disclosed a clear cell tumor, positive for vimentin, cytokeratins AE1 and AE3 and immunohistochemically negative for LH, TSH, ACTH and GH. Considering the similar histopathological features, it was considered as a metastasis of the renal tumor. The patient was supplemented with thyroid, adrenal and gonadal hormones. Seven years later, he presented a new tumor in the remaining kidney, that corresponded to a cystic papillary renal cell carcinoma. Afterwards, he presented a transitional urinary bladder tumor. Mortality associated to renal cell tumors is 90 percent at 5 years, and pituitary metastases are extraordinarily uncommon

Metástase de adenocarcinoma mamário para a hipófise: relato de caso / Breast adenocarcinoma metastatic to the pituitary gland: a case report

Relato de caso de metástase de adenocarcinoma mamário para a hipófise, referente a uma paciente de 57 anos de idade, apresentando imagem de tomografia computadorizada sugestiva de adenoma primário de hipófise. É mencionada pelos autores a importância da cirurgia no diagnóstico definitivo da lesao para determinar o tratamento apropriado.