Sarcomatous transformation of pituitary adenoma after bromocriptine therapy

Sarcomas of the sellar region: a systematic review

PURPOSE AND METHODS

Sarcomas of the sellar region are uncommon and unexpected tumors. Here, we review the cases reported in literature via a systematic search.

RESULTS

Ninety-four patients, 58.5% male with mean age of 39.2 ± 17.2 years were included. Fifty-seven (62%) had soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and 35 (38%) bone sarcomas (BS). Sarcoma was a primary tumor in 66%, developed after radiotherapy in 31.9% and 7.4% were metastatic. Median time between radiotherapy and sarcoma development was 10.5 (11) years. Main presentation symptoms were visual disorders (87.9%), headache (61.5%) and III cranial nerve palsy (24.1%). After surgery, sarcoma persisted or recurred in 82.3% and overall mortality reported was 44.6% with 6.5 (14) months of median survival. Tumor appeared earlier in BS compared to STS (34.4 ± 15.1 vs. 42.6 ± 17.6 years), p = 0.034 and complete tumor resection was achieved more often (41.3% vs. 4.4%), p =  < 0.001. Condrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma were more frequent subtypes among primary tumors while fibrosarcoma was among post-radiation sarcomas. Tumor size was larger in radiation associated sarcomas (mean maximum diameter 46.3 ± 9.3 vs. 29.1 ± 8.0 mm, p = 0.004) and persistency/recurrence was similar in both groups (70.1 vs. 73.3%, p = 0.259).

CONCLUSION

Sarcomas appear as mass effect symptoms in the middle aged population, mainly as primary tumors, but one third is associated with radiotherapy. Surgery is commonly not curative, mortality rate is high and death ensues shortly after diagnosis.

The diagnosis and management of primary and iatrogenic soft tissue sarcomas of the sella

PURPOSE

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the sella is exceptionally rare. We conducted a case series, literature review, and nationwide analysis of primary and iatrogenic (radiation-associated) STS of the sella to define the clinical course of this entity.

METHODS

This study employed a multi-institutional retrospective case review, literature review, and nationwide analysis using the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

RESULTS

We report five patients who were diagnosed at three institutions with malignant STS of the sella. All patients presented with symptoms related to mass effect in the sellar region. All tumors extended to the suprasellar space, with the majority displaying extension into the cavernous sinus. All patients underwent an operation via a transsphenoidal approach with a goal of maximal safe tumor resection in four patients and biopsy for 1 patient. Histopathologic evaluation demonstrated STS in all patients. Post-operative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were given to 2 and 1 out of 4 patients with known post-operative clinical course, respectively. The 1-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 100% (5/5) and 25% (1/4). Twenty-two additional reports of primary, non-iatrogenic STS of the sella were identified in the literature. Including the three cases from our series, treatment included resection in all cases, and adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were utilized in 50% (12/24) and 17% (4/24) of cases, respectively. The national prevalence of malignant STS is estimated to be 0.01% among all pituitary and sellar tumors within the NCDB.

CONCLUSIONS

We report the prevalence and survival rates of STS of the sella. Multimodal therapy, including maximal safe resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are necessary to optimize outcomes for this uncommon pathology.

Unusual Course of an Aggressive Pituitary Prolactinoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Pituitary carcinomas are rare tumors with heterogeneous behaviors. Their carcinogenesis is still unknown. Consequently, treatment is multimodal and not standardized. Dopamine (DA) agonists are used as first-line treatments, while radiotherapy and surgery may be used for local control of invasive tumors. We describe the case of a 35-year-old male who presented with an invasive prolactinoma, managed initially with a transsphenoidal resection, postsurgical radiotherapy and DA agonists. The patient posteriorly presented a sole metastatic lesion to the lumbar spine that was later managed with local radiotherapy. Due to pituitary recurrence of the lesion, multiple surgical resections were needed until further treatment was declined. The clinical course in this patient was unusual. He lived for 13 years after initial diagnosis, with a very invasive tumor without systemic chemotherapy. Radiotherapy is used in pituitary tumors in which surgery fails; we hypothesize that it contributed to the malignant transformation and the late resistance to DA agonists in our patient. Several biomarkers in tumoral tissue have been evaluated regarding their association with malignancy and aggressive behaviors, although more studies are still needed. Therapeutic strategies are limited, without evidence on the impact on overall survival and prognosis. Risk factors associated with early malignancy in pituitary prolactinomas include recurrent behavior, increase in prolactin levels with a stable sellar mass, and secondary development of DA agonist resistance. However, there are still no conclusive answers as to whether physicians should rigorously follow up these patients or provide direct therapy with aggressive approaches.

Primary Sellar Rhabdomyosarcoma Arising in Association With a Pituitary Adenoma

Intrasellar rhabdomyosarcoma is rare, and when arising in collusion with an unrelated entity, can present a diagnostic pitfall. We describe a case of a 56-year-old woman who presented with right eye ptosis and a pituitary mass, which was resected and diagnosed as atypical pituitary adenoma. Because of residual disease and atypical pathology, the patient received adjuvant radiation. Tumor recurrence was noted after 5 months, and a second resection was performed. Nests of atypical pituitary adenoma cells within an exuberant spindle cell stroma were noted, with areas of presumed radiation necrosis. A second recurrence prompted a third resection. After expert consultation and additional immunohistochemical stains for muscle markers, a diagnosis was rendered of primary rhabdomyosarcoma arising in association with a pituitary adenoma. Despite its rarity, a high index of suspicion for rhabdomyosarcoma arising within a pituitary adenoma should be maintained in cases of atypical pituitary adenoma with a stromal response.

Case report of sarcoma of the sella caused by postoperative radiotherapy for a prolactin-producing pituitary adenoma

We report a case of sarcomatous transformation of a prolactin (PRL)-producing pituitary adenoma in a 27-year-old man. He originally presented with bitemporal visual disturbance, headache, and hyperprolactinemia 8 years earlier. Tumor shrinkage was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during treatment with dopamine-receptor agonist. However, 3 years later transsphenoidal surgery had to be performed because of tumor re-growth. Histopathological examination revealed a PRL-producing adenoma with fibrotic changes. One year later, he presented with right-sided visual disturbance, and tumor re-growth was confirmed using MRI. He underwent transcranial surgery, followed by radiation therapy (50 Gy in 25 fractions). The histological and immunostaining features were similar in both specimens obtained from the two operations. Four years later, he presented with left-sided visual disturbance, and tumor re-growth was confirmed using MRI. The mass lesion dramatically increased in size within 2 months, and partial removal of the tumor by craniotomy was performed. The specimen was histologically diagnosed as malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH). Regardless of aggressive chemotherapy, his clinical symptoms and imaging findings worsened rapidly. He died 7 months after the diagnosis of MFH. Because patients with pituitary tumor undergoing radiotherapy face the possibility of developing such neoplasm, long-term follow-up is required.

Sarcoma of the sella after radiotherapy for pituitary adenoma

Secondary malignancies are infrequent sequelae of pituitary radiotherapy. The goal of the present case study is to analyze clinical features of a selected group of cases to define the special characteristics of these tumors. We report the illustrative case of a 38-year-old man with acromegaly who had transsphenoidal surgery and radiotherapy 7 years before presenting with a sellar high-grade sarcoma. Transsphenoidal and transcranial resection, as well as repeated gamma knife radiosurgery, could not prevent tumor progression and development of meningiosis sarcomatosa. We performed a thorough search of the literature and reviewed numerous publications and reports on primary and secondary sarcomas of the sella. Our search revealed 51 cases of mesenchymal malignancies after sellar radiotherapy. For further analysis, we identified and selected a group of patients based on the criteria for studying radiation-induced tumors as described by Cahan.Compared to the surgically treated group, secondary sarcomas of the sella are more frequent in patients who have had radiotherapy. These tumors occur at normal dose schedules with long latencies. Their growth is very aggressive and they may develop meningiosis sarcomatosa. Until now, no treatment modalities have been able to stop the progression of these neoplasms. Radiation-induced sarcoma is a rare sequela of pituitary radiotherapy. It is important for the treating physician to keep in mind the possibility of post-radiation sarcoma development. Additionally, one must include these tumors into the differential diagnosis in pituitary patients presenting with tumor recurrence more than 5 years after radiotherapy in combination with a secondary lack of hormonal activity.

Synovial sarcoma of the sellar region

Primary sarcomas of the sellar region are uncommon, although a wide variety have been reported. To date, no cases of primary synovial sarcoma have been described as occurring at this site. We report an immunohistochemically and molecular genetically confirmed primary synovial sarcoma involving the sellar/parasellar region and cavernous sinus in an adult male. Subtotal resection and radiosurgery proved to be efficacious. The spectrum of primary sellar region sarcomas is summarized.

Cancer therapy-associated CNS neuropathology: an update and review of the literature

Standard therapeutic options for brain tumors include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, these same therapies pose risks of neurotoxicity, the most common long-term complications being radiation necrosis, chemotherapy-associated leukoencephalopathy, and secondary neoplasms. These side effects remain difficult to predict, but are associated with risk factors that include patient age, therapeutic modality and dosage, genetic background, and idiosyncratic predispositions. Experimental treatments designed to enhance efficacy and to minimize neurotoxicity include molecularly targeted, genetic, stem cell, and immune therapies. Newer modifications in radiation and drug delivery include stereotactic radiosurgery, interstitial therapy such as intracavitary brachytherapy and gliadel wafer placement, 3D conformal radiation, boron neutron capture therapy, radiosensitizers, blood-brain barrier disrupting agents, and convection enhanced delivery. Toxicities associated with these newer modalities have yet to be fully investigated and documented. Additionally, a number of recently implemented radiographic techniques such as PET and SPECT imaging have enhanced the ability to distinguish recurrent tumor from radiation necrosis. Nevertheless, post-therapeutic brain biopsies and autopsies remain the gold standard for assessing neurotoxicity, therapeutic efficacy, tumor progression, and the development of secondary neoplasms. At the same time, treatment-associated changes such as tumor necrosis, vasculopathy, inflammation, and cytologic atypia can pose significant diagnostic pitfalls, particularly if the pathologist is not provided a detailed therapeutic history. Therefore, it is critical to recognize the full spectrum of cancer therapy-associated neuropathology, the topic of the current review.

Sarcomatous change after sellar irradiation in a growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma

BACKGROUND

Although the benefits of radiotherapy for pituitary adenomas are well-documented, post-irradiation sarcomas of the sella are rarely seen, with only 20 cases (mainly of fibrosarcoma) reported in the medical literature.

METHOD

We describe a case of post-irradiation sarcoma five years after surgery followed by external-beam irradiation for an extensive and locally invasive growth hormone-secreting tumor. The patient was subsequently given pegvisomant, an antagonist of growth hormone receptor, to control symptoms of growth hormone excess.

RESULTS

The patient underwent transsphenoidal resection of the recurrent tumor, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. This led to significant relief in the patient's symptoms including radiological evidence of tumor shrinkage, but the tumor regrew when, owing to dose-limiting toxicity, chemotherapy was stopped.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-irradiation sarcomas of the pituitary are well-recognized but rare. They should be suspected in patients following sellar irradiation who show abrupt onset of new symptoms and appropriate radiological findings, and such tumors may respond to cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Combined sellar fibrosarcoma and prolactinoma with neuronal metaplasia: report of a case unassociated with radiotherapy

We report the occurrence of a primary pituitary fibrosarcoma causally unrelated to radiotherapy, admixed in association with a prolactin cell pituitary adenoma showing neuronal metaplasia. These unique findings were associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1). Primary fibrosarcoma involving the sella is a very rare tumor. The majority of cases have been associated with prior irradiation of either a pituitary adenoma or a craniopharyngioma. Pituitary adenoma with neuronal metaplasia is also rare and usually occurs in the setting of acromegaly. Despite the intimate association of both elements in our lesion, no transition of adenoma to sarcoma was demonstrable by immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization studies.

Gamma knife radiosurgery and its possible relationship to malignancy: a review

✓ The question has been raised recently whether gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) can induce secondary neoplasia. Because there is little or no detailed knowledge about this potential complication, background information culled from the radiotherapy literature is reviewed as a guide to the clinical situations in which radiotherapy may induce secondary neoplastic change. Available case reports are then reviewed and discussed against the background of the current knowledge. On the basis of the review, the following suggestions are proposed on how to limiting the extent of this complication, document its frequency, and inform patients. It should be remembered that: the benefits of GKS are great; its alternatives also have risks; there often are no alternatives to GKS; follow-up documentation should be pursued more actively so that, if possible, no patient falls through the net; practitioners should be proactive in defining the problem, and genetic analysis of tumor biopsy specimens obtained in patients who will undergo or have undergone GKS should become routine; the extent of secondary neoplasia is not known; and patient information should be guided by what is known rather than by what is feared.

Absent p53 immunohistochemical staining in a pituitary carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Carcinomatous transformation of pituitary adenomas is uncommon, and is generally accompanied by nuclear accumulation of p53 protein. Pituitary carcinoma lacking accumulation of p53 protein is very rare, only two such cases being previously reported.

METHODS

A patient presented with visual disturbance and cranial nerve palsies and was found to have a suprasellar mass. He underwent both transphenoidal and transfrontal excision of a nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma which recurred several times. The third recurrence was accompanied by multiple dural-based metastases. Despite aggressive surgical management, he continued to develop additional intracranial lesions and died two years after the discovery of metastatic disease. Specimens from 1984, 1995, 1997 and 1998 were available for histological and immunocytochemical analysis. Antibodies recognizing the pituitary hormones (ACTH, PRL, GH, FSH, LH and TSH), as well as cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and chromogranin A were applied to investigate the lineage of the neoplasm. Antisera specific for Ki-67 (MIB-1) and p53 protein were also applied to further delineate the biology of the tumour.

RESULTS

Although cytokeratin and chromogranin A were detected in neoplastic cells. no expression of pituitary hormones was demonstrable, indicative of a nonfunctioning, null-cell pituitary adenoma. Nuclear pleomorphism and mitotic activity increased with subsequent resections. Abnormal accumulation of p53 protein was not observed, neither in early resections nor in the metastatic deposits.

CONCLUSIONS

Failure to demonstrate p53 protein accumulation does not ensure a favourable outcome for pituitary adenoma. Accordingly, pituitary carcinoma may occur in the absence of p53 accumulation. The factors which underlie aggressive behaviour of pituitary neoplasms are uncertain but are under investigation.