title: Medullary thyroid carcinoma metastatic to the pituitary gland: an unusual site of metastasis.
abstract: We present a case of metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma involving the pituitary gland of a 23-year-old woman with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2b who presented with diabetes insipidus and visual loss. The diagnostic features, including cytomorphology and immunohistochemistry, used to differentiate pituitary adenoma from metastatic medullary carcinoma are discussed. Pituitary metastases and tumor-to-tumor metastases in this region are also highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mdwillia@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Michelle D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Sylvia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Asa
authors.forename: Gregory N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Fuller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D020790:Diabetes Insipidus, Neurogenic / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018814:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2b / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor