title: Hypophyseal metastases: A report of three cases and literature review.
abstract: Metastatic tumours to the pituitary gland are rare. The most frequent are metastases from breast and lung. We describe three patients with metastatic tumours: (I) a 54-year-old patient with metastatic renal clear-cell carcinoma and consequent disturbances in visual acuity, cranial nerve paresis and panhypopituitarism, (II) a 60-year-old patient with a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with panhypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus and (III) a 57-year-old patient with metastasis of breast cancer and panhypopituitarism, visual impairment and cranial nerve paresis. A transnasal endoscopic biopsy and resection of the tumour was performed in all patients, followed by the oncological treatment. Despite the rarity of the disease, it is important to suspect a metastatic pituitary tumour especially in the case of diabetes insipidus, ophthalmoplegia, rapid course of the disease and headaches. In 20-30% of patients, a metastasis to the pituitary is the first manifestation of a tumour of unknown origin. Surgical and adjuvant therapy may improve the quality of life. The survival is not affected, however, and the prognosis of the disease is usually poor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Janez
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ravnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Tomaz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smigoc
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Gorazd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bunc
authors.affiliation: Department of Ears, Nose and Throat, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Bostjan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lanisnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Ursa
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ksela
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ravnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia. Electronic address: tvelnar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Tomaz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Velnar
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D065426:Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures; D003919:Diabetes Insipidus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Breast cancer; Lymphoma; Metastases; Pituitary tumour; Renal cell carcinoma