Published online May 26, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i15.2597
Revised: March 20, 2024
Accepted: April 10, 2024
Published online: May 26, 2024
Processing time: 139 Days and 19.2 Hours
Pituitary gland metastasis is an unusual event, and pituitary metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma is extremely rare and associated with poor prognosis. To date, approximately 15 cases have been reported.
Here, we present the case of a 64-year-old woman with pituitary metastasis derived from lung adenocarcinoma, which was difficult to distinguish from other sellar tumors. The patient presented to the neurosurgery clinic with blurred vision and intermittent headache. During hospitalization, brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a pituitary macroadenoma. Chest CT revealed irregular nodules in the basal segment of the lower lobe of the left lung, which were likely lung cancer. Positron emission tomography-CT revealed a carbohydrate metabolism tumor in the lungs and sellar region, which was considered malignant. Postoperative pathological examination of the sellar tumor revealed lung adenocarcinoma.
Excision of pituitary metastases combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy should be a priority treatment for patients with pituitary metastasis.
Core Tip: Pituitary metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma is extremely rare, but physicians should consider it if it rapidly develops clinical symptoms or grows quickly, especially in patients with other tumors or those with a history of other systemic malignancies. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are recommended as initial treatments. The blood supply to pituitary metastases is extremely rich; therefore, neurosurgeons must make adequate surgical preparations and plans.