Skip to main content
Log in

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the pituitary gland presenting with hypopituitarism

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A 57-year-old man with pituitary metastasis from renal cell carcinoma is reported. He underwent right nephrectomy and total pancreatectomy for renal cell carcinoma and its pancreatic metastasis, respectively. Imaging studies showed an intrasellar mass lesion. The examination revealed panhypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus and bitemporal hemianospia. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma was diagnosed by the biopsy of the pituitary tumor. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the pituitary gland, which is extremely rare, appears to have unique features of presenting with hypopituitarism and visual disturbance more frequently than other metastatic pituitary tumors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kovacs K. Metastatic cancer of the pituitary gland. Oncology 27: 533, 1973.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Roessman U., Kaufman B., Friede R.L. Metastatic lesions in the sella turcica and pituitary gland. Cancer 25: 478, 1970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Duchen L.W. Metastatic carcinoma in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. J. Path. Bact. 91: 347, 1966.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Houck W.A., Olson K.B., Horton J. Clinical features of tumor metastasis to the pituitary. Cancer 26: 656, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Branch C.L. Jr., Laws E.R. Jr. Metastatic tumors of the sella turcica masquerading as primary pituitary tumor. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 65:469, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hagerstrand I., Schonebeck J. Metastases to the pituitary gland. Acta Path. Microbiol. Scand. 75:64, 1969.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Teears B.J., Silverman E.M. Clinicopathologic review of 88 cases of carcinoma metastatic to the pituitary gland. Cancer 36: 216, 1975.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Max M.B., Deck M.D.F., Rottenberg D.A. Pituitary metastasis: incidence in cancer patients and clinical differentiation from pituitary adenoma. Neurology 37:998, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Buonaguidi R., Ferdeghini M., Faggionato F., Tusini G. Intrasellar metastasis mimicking a pituitary adenoma. Surg. Neurol. 20:373, 1983.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Scully R.E., Mark E.J., McNeely B.U. Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital: case 33–1983. N. Engl. J. Med. 309:418, 1983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Anniko M., Lundquist P-G., Silfversward C., Wersall J. Hypernephroma metastasis in the pituitary gland. Arch. Otorhinolaryngol. 232: 227, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. James R.L. Jr., Arsenis G., Stoler M.. Nelson C., Baran D. Hypophyseal metastatic renal cell carcinoma and pituitary adenoma. Am. J. Med. 70:337, 1984.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Eick J.J., Bell K.A., Stephan M.T., Fuselier H.A., Jr. Metastatic renal cell cacinoma presenting as an intrasellar mass on computerized tomography. J. Urol. 134: 128, 1985.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. McCormick P.C., Post K.D., Kandji A.D., Hays A.P. Metastatic carcinoma to the pituitary gland Br. J. Neurosurg. 3:71, 1989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Post K.D., Kasdon D.L. Sellar and paraseliar lesions mimicking adenoma. In: Post K.D., Jackson I., Reichlin S. (Eds.), The pituitary adenoma. Plenum, New York, 1980, P. 159.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. Markusse K.M., Hekster R.E.M., Velde J., Vecht C.J. Metastatic malignancy presenting as anterior pituitary failure. Neth. J. Med. 30:135, 1987.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Nelson P.B., Robinson A.G., Martinez A.J. Metastatic tumor of the pituitary gland. Neurosurgery 27:941, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Bynke O., Ottoson A.M. Is metastatic breast carcinoma in the pituitary a concealed manifestation? Lancet 2:1336, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Dingman J.F., Despointes R.H. Adrenal inhibition of vasopressin release from the neurohypophysis of normal subjects and patients with Addison’s disease. J. Clin. Invest. 39: 1851, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kleeman C.R., Czaczkes J.W., Cutler R. Mechanisms of impaired water excretion in adrenal and pituitary insufficiency. IV. antidiuretic hormone in primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency. J. Clin. Invest. 43:1641, 1964.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Koshiyama, H., Ohgaki, K., Hida, S. et al. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the pituitary gland presenting with hypopituitarism. J Endocrinol Invest 15, 677–681 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345815

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345815

Key-words

Navigation