Pituitary carcinoma with intraspinal metastasis: report of two cases and review of the literature

Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2015 Aug 1;8(8):9712-7. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Pituitary carcinomas are rare malignant neoplasms with diagnostic and management challenges. Patients with pituitary carcinomas have extremely poor outcomes. In this report, the authors describe two cases of pituitary carcinomas with intraspinal metastasis (Case 1: 42-year-old man with a history of pituitary adenoma 16 years ago developed an intraspinal lesion at C4-C5; Case 2: 26-year-old women with a history of growth hormone-producing pituitary adenoma 9 years ago developed intraspinal lesion in the sacral canal). Both patients underwent spine surgery. The intraspinal lesions were confirmed as metastatic pituitary carcinomas based on the histomorphology and immunohistochemical stains. The authors reviewed the literature for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of intraspinal metastasis from pituitary carcinomas.

Keywords: Pituitary carcinoma; intraspinal metastasis; management; pituitary adenoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / pathology
  • Adult
  • Carcinoma / secondary*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Spinal Neoplasms / secondary*