title: Breast cancer metastatic to the pituitary gland: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metastases to the pituitary gland are rare events, and usually indicate widespread malignant disease. The lung and the breast are the most common sites of primary tumors that metastasize to the pituitary gland.Metastases are more frequent in older patients and the most common symptoms at presentation are diabetes insipidus and visual alterations.
  
  
  METHODS
  72-year-old white woman was treated for a breast carcinoma with right superoexternal quadrantectomy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy. Twelve years later, the patient presented with bone pain, bilateral progressive visual decline, and onset of hypopituitarism. A diagnosis of secondary bone involvement and pituitary metastasis was made.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was an unusual disease course, and stresses the importance of intensive follow-up in patients with breast cancer even many years after the initial diagnosis This case emphasizes that diagnosis can be difficult and controversial when relapse occurs at uncommon sites.
authors: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome "Sapienza," - Distretto ASL di Aprilia - Via Giustiniano snc, 04011 Aprilia, LT, Italy. gianpaolo.spinelli@uniroma1.it
authors: Gian Paolo
authors: GP
authors: Spinelli
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Lo Russo
authors: Evelina
authors: E
authors: Miele
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Prinzi
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Tomao
authors: Manila
authors: M
authors: Antonelli
authors: Felice
authors: F
authors: Giangaspero
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Stati
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Strudel
authors: Silverio
authors: S
authors: Tomao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D011379:Prognosis