Malignant prolactinoma: is metastasis a must? Clinico-pathologic and immunohistochemical study of a case.
Pituitary carcinomas are rare tumors which have been conventionally defined as primary adenohypophyseal tumors with cerebrospinal or extracranial metastases. According to the current criteria even a highly invasive tumor without metastases is not considered as malignant. A case of pituitary adenoma is reported with an unproven site of metastasis but with rapid increase in prolactin levels (35,000 ng/ml), showing extensive invasion on radiology, and pathological and immunohistochemical studies indicating a highly mitotic variety of tumor. On the basis of this case we want to emphasize that extracranial metastasis is not a must to label a pituitary adenoma as a malignant tumor. Such aggressive behavior of the tumor and clinico-pathological course in itself should be sufficient for the tumor to be labeled as malignant.
Vaishya
S
S
Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. svaishya@hotmail.com
Tondon
A
A
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D011859:Radiography
D011388:Prolactin