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Gamboa NT, Wilkerson C, Kundu B, Sherrod BA, Dailey AT, Couldwell WT. Natural history of pituitary carcinoma with metastasis to the cervical spine: illustrative case. JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY. CASE LESSONS 2023; 5:CASE22363. [PMID: 36647250 PMCID: PMC9844525 DOI: 10.3171/case22363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pituitary carcinoma is a rare tumor of the adenohypophysis with noncontiguous craniospinal dissemination and/or systemic metastases. Given the rarity of this malignancy, there is limited knowledge and consensus regarding its natural history, prognosis, and optimal treatment. OBSERVATIONS The authors present the case of a 46-year-old woman initially treated with invasive prolactin-secreting pituitary macroadenoma who developed metastatic disease of the cervical spine 6 years later. The patient presented with acutely worsening compressive cervical myelopathy and required posterior cervical decompression, tumor resection, and instrumented arthrodesis for posterolateral fusion. LESSONS This case underscores the importance of long-term monitoring of hormone levels and having a high clinical suspicion for metastatic disease to the spine in patients presenting with acute myelopathy or radiculopathy in the setting of previously treated invasive secreting pituitary adenoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas T. Gamboa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Christopher Wilkerson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Bornali Kundu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Brandon A. Sherrod
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Andrew T. Dailey
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - William T. Couldwell
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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Vekaria S, Chen F, Zan E, William C, Sen C, Lebowitz R, Zagzag D, Warren FA, Brandler TC, Agrawal N. Growth hormone secreting pituitary carcinomas: Case report and review of literature. Growth Horm IGF Res 2021; 60-61:101430. [PMID: 34607164 DOI: 10.1016/j.ghir.2021.101430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pituitary carcinoma is a rare tumor, defined as a tumor of adenohypophyseal cells with systemic or craniospinal metastasis. We present a case of a growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary carcinoma with a review of literature to better characterize this disease. DESIGN Case report and literature review of 25 cases of GH-secreting pituitary carcinomas RESULTS: The age of diagnosis of GH-secreting carcinomas ranged 24-69 years old with a mean age of 44.4 with 52% of cases present in females. Mean latency period between diagnosis of acromegaly and transition to pituitary carcinoma was 11.4 years with mean survival being 3.4 years. CONCLUSION Growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary carcinomas are rare and hard to distinguish from aggressive pituitary adenomas. From review of literature, treatment options include debulking surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy with dismal outcomes. There are no diagnostic markers or features which can predict metastatic progression of these tumors. Future studies with genomic landscapes and relevant tumor markers are needed to identify pituitary tumors most likely to metastasize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Vekaria
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fei Chen
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elcin Zan
- Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher William
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chandra Sen
- Department of Neurosurgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard Lebowitz
- Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Zagzag
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Floyd A Warren
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tamar C Brandler
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nidhi Agrawal
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY, USA.
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Yoo F, Kuan EC, Heaney AP, Bergsneider M, Wang MB. Corticotrophic pituitary carcinoma with cervical metastases: case series and literature review. Pituitary 2018; 21:290-301. [PMID: 29404894 DOI: 10.1007/s11102-018-0872-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pituitary tumors are the second most common intracranial tumors, however, pituitary carcinoma is a rare clinical entity which represents only 0.1-0.2% of all pituitary tumors. Diagnosis of pituitary carcinoma requires the presence of metastasis. Early identification of pituitary carcinoma is difficult, and only recently have guidelines been published for the treatment of aggressive pituitary tumors. We present two cases from our institution, with a review of other cases available in literature in order to better characterize this rare disease. METHODS A retrospective review of two patients with pituitary carcinoma treated at a tertiary medical center was performed. The MEDLINE database was searched for all cases of pituitary carcinoma. Information for age at diagnosis, sex, pituitary tumor type, latency period from pituitary tumor to presentation of carcinoma, sites of metastasis, number of surgical therapies, radiation and chemotherapy, and survival after diagnosis were collected. RESULTS A total of 69 studies were available for review for a total of 72 unique cases. The average age at diagnosis was 46.3 years. The most common tumors were ACTH-secreting (34.7%), Prolactin-secreting (23.6%), and Null Cell (15.3%). The average latency period from pituitary tumor diagnosis to metastasis was 9 years. All patients underwent surgical therapy during their treatment, with an average of 2.76 procedures. The mortality rate was 54.8% with average time to death after diagnosis of approximately 10 months. CONCLUSIONS Pituitary carcinoma is a rare disease with high mortality rate and is a diagnostic and treatment challenge. Further study is required but is difficult due to its low incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick Yoo
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, 10833 Le Conte Ave. 62-132 CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1624, USA.
| | - Edward C Kuan
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, 10833 Le Conte Ave. 62-132 CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1624, USA
| | - Anthony P Heaney
- Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Marvin Bergsneider
- Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Marilene B Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, 10833 Le Conte Ave. 62-132 CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1624, USA
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Goodwin CR, Clarke MJ, Gokaslan ZL, Fisher C, Laufer I, Weber MH, Sciubba DM. En Bloc Resection of Solitary Functional Secreting Spinal Metastasis. Global Spine J 2016; 6:277-83. [PMID: 27099819 PMCID: PMC4836935 DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1558654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Study Design Literature review. Objective Functional secretory tumors metastatic to the spine can secrete hormones, growth factors, peptides, and/or molecules into the systemic circulation that cause distinct syndromes, clinically symptomatic effects, and/or additional morbidity and mortality. En bloc resection has a limited role in metastatic spine disease due to the current paradigm that systemic burden usually determines morbidity and mortality. Our objective is to review the literature for studies focused on en bloc resection of functionally active spinal metastasis as the primary indication. Methods A review of the PubMed literature was performed to identify studies focused on functional secreting metastatic tumors to the spinal column. We identified five cases of patients undergoing en bloc resection of spinal metastases from functional secreting tumors. Results The primary histologies of these spinal metastases were pheochromocytoma, carcinoid tumor, choriocarcinoma, and a fibroblast growth factor 23-secreting phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor. Although studies of en bloc resection for these rare tumor subtypes are confined to case reports, this surgical treatment option resulted in metabolic cures and decreased clinical symptoms postoperatively for patients diagnosed with solitary functional secretory spinal metastasis. Conclusion Although the ability to formulate comprehensive conclusions is limited, case reports demonstrate that en bloc resection may be considered as a potential surgical option for the treatment of patients diagnosed with solitary functional secretory spinal metastatic tumors. Future prospective investigations into clinical outcomes should be conducted comparing intralesional resection and en bloc resection for patients diagnosed with solitary functional secretory spinal metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Rory Goodwin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Michelle J. Clarke
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Ziya L. Gokaslan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Charles Fisher
- Department of Orthopaedics, Division of Spine, University of British Columbia and Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ilya Laufer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States
| | - Michael H. Weber
- Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Daniel M. Sciubba
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States,Address for correspondence Daniel M. Sciubba, MD Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine600 North Wolfe Street, Meyer 5-185, Baltimore, MD 21287United States
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Vieira Neto L, Chimelli L, Pereira PJDM, Gasparetto EL, Bines J, Wildemberg LEA, Gadelha MR. The role of temozolomide in the treatment of a patient with a pure silent pituitary somatotroph carcinoma. Endocr Pract 2014; 19:e145-9. [PMID: 23807517 DOI: 10.4158/ep12400.cr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe a case of a pure silent somatotroph pituitary carcinoma. METHODS We describe a 54-year-old female with a clinically nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenoma diagnosed 15 years earlier. RESULTS The patient underwent transsphenoidal surgery and no visible tumor remnant was observed for 6 years. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected the recurrence of a 1.2 × 1.5 cm macroadenoma. The patient was submitted to conventional radiotherapy (4500 cGy), and the tumor volume remained stable for 7 years. Then, an MRI revealed a slight increase in tumor size, and 2 years later, a subsequent MRI detected a very large, invasive pituitary mass. The patient was resubmitted to transsphenoidal surgery, and the histopathological examination showed diffuse positivity for growth hormone (GH). The nadir GH level during an oral glucose tolerance test was 0.06 ng/mL, and the pre- and postoperative insulin like growth factor type I (IGF-I) levels were within the normal range. Abdominal, chest, brain, and spine MRI showed multiple small and hypervascular liver and bone lesions suggestive of metastases. Liver biopsy confirmed metastasis of GH-producing pituitary carcinoma. The patient has been treated with temozolomide and zoledronic acid for 7 months and with octreotide long-acting release (LAR) for 4 months. The primary tumor and metastases are stable. CONCLUSION Despite being an extremely rare event, pituitary carcinoma may develop several years after the successful treatment of even a silent GH-producing pituitary adenoma, which suggests that close long-term follow-up is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Vieira Neto
- Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrine Unit, Medical School and Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Endocrinology Section, Federal Hospital of Lagoa
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Tanaka T, Kato N, Aoki K, Watanabe M, Arai T, Hasegawa Y, Abe T. Long-term follow-up of growth hormone-producing pituitary carcinoma with multiple spinal metastases following multiple surgeries: case report. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 2013; 53:707-11. [PMID: 24077272 PMCID: PMC4508743 DOI: 10.2176/nmc.cr2012-0152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This report describes a rare case of a patient with growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenoma with malignant transformation resulting in multiple metastases to the dura mater of the cerebral convexity and high cervical spine. The patient was a 60-year-old man with a previous history of pituitary adenoma with suprasellar extension who had undergone transsphenoidal surgery, craniotomy for a convexity tumor, and suboccipital craniotomy for a cerebellar tumor. Thirteen years after the initial surgery, suboccipital craniotomy for a cervicomedullary junction tumor and cervicospinal surgery for a metastatic tumor was performed. Histologic findings of resected specimens demonstrated that the primary pituitary tumor was typical adenoma (similar to specimens from the initial surgery) but that the cerebellar and the dural tumor from the high cervical spine had a high incidence of mitotic figures, and cellular anaplasia with nuclear polymorphism and necrosis. In addition, the serum levels of GH were noted to have decreased with recurrence of the tumor. It was concluded that patients with pituitary adenoma, even when benign, must be carefully followed for signs of malignant transformation, and spinal or distant metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihide Tanaka
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jikei University School of Medicine Kashiwa Hospital
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To report a rare case of metastatic growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary carcinoma causing acromegaly. METHODS We present a case report and review the available literature on this topic. RESULTS A 68-year-old woman presented with persistent acromegaly after treatment for a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Evaluation of long-standing cervical adenopathy revealed findings consistent with a metastatic neuroendocrine tumor. Further work-up revealed additional thyroid, parathyroid, and cervical masses. After operative treatment including total thyroidectomy, subtotal parathyroidectomy, partial thymectomy, and right modified radical neck dissection, the patient's symptoms diminished, and her GH levels approached the normal range. Surgical pathology findings were consistent with a GH-secreting pituitary carcinoma metastatic to the cervical lymph nodes, multinodular thyroid hyperplasia with a focus of papillary microcarcinoma, and parathyroid hyperplasia. CONCLUSION Overall, pituitary carcinomas are extremely rare. To date, about 100 cases have been reported in the world's literature, and of these, only 19 cases originated from GH-secreting cells. Our examination of the symptoms, signs, diagnosis, and treatment of our patient, in comparison with the previously reported cases, should enhance awareness of this unusual disease process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele A Manahan
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Lopes MBS, Scheithauer BW, Schiff D. Pituitary carcinoma: diagnosis and treatment. Endocrine 2005; 28:115-21. [PMID: 16311418 DOI: 10.1385/endo:28:1:115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2005] [Accepted: 06/18/2005] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Pituitary carcinomas are rare pituitary tumors that by definition have cerebrospinal and/or systemic metastases. Most of the tumors occur in the setting of multiple recurrences of invasive pituitary adenomas. This article reviews the clinical presentation of these tumors, their neuroimaging and pathological features, tumor pathogenesis, and possible treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Beatriz S Lopes
- Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
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Lehman NL, Horoupian DS, Harsh GR. Synchronous subarachnoid drop metastases from a pituitary adenoma with multiple recurrences. Case report. J Neurosurg 2003; 98:1120-3. [PMID: 12744376 DOI: 10.3171/jns.2003.98.5.1120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The authors report the case of a 49-year-old man with synchronous drop metastases from a multiply recurrent somatotroph pituitary adenoma. The metastatic lesions were found in the subarachnoid space of the cauda equina and foramen magnum 18 years after the initial diagnosis of the disease. Five transsphenoidal resections had previously failed to cure the sellar tumor. Two of these, performed 4 and 5 years before the patient's current presentation, had been complicated by cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea that necessitated lumbar drainage. Resections of the two subarachnoid lesions, separated by 14 months, removed pathologically aggressive pituitary adenomas. There were no signs of local recurrence or subarachnoid dissemination of disease during the postoperative follow-up periods, which lasted 18 and 4 months, respectively. Previous cases of subarachnoid spread of a pituitary adenoma have been associated with multiple intracranial metastases, multiple intraspinal metastases, or widely disseminated disease. This case demonstrates that subarachnoid metastasis of a pituitary adenoma, particularly when it follows multiple operations, is not invariably widely disseminated or associated with a very poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman L Lehman
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
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Pichard C, Gerber S, Laloi M, Kujas M, Clemenceau S, Ponvert D, Bruckert E, Turpin G. Pituitary carcinoma: report of an exceptional case and review of the literature. J Endocrinol Invest 2002; 25:65-72. [PMID: 11883868 DOI: 10.1007/bf03343963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Pituitary carcinomas are exceptional tumors and constitute 0.1 to 0.2% of pituitary tumors. Their definition includes well-established criteria but distant metastasis is the hallmark required for diagnosis. We report the fourth case of gonadotropic pituitary carcinoma described in the literature. This case illustrates the dramatic outcome of these tumors. The most interesting feature of our case was the loss of differentiation with time, established by retrospective analysis of the primary tumor surgically treated 15 years earlier. Most of the previously reported cases exhibited a majority of adrenocoticotropin and non-functioning pituitary tumors. However, the frequency of non-functioning tumors seems smaller than previously believed. In the discussion, we stress the need to detect these very aggressive tumors as early as possible and identify treatments to improve the dramatic course of these carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Pichard
- Department of Endocrinology, Groupe Hospitalier La Pitié Salpetriêre, Paris, France.
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Affiliation(s)
- G A Kaltsas
- Department of Endocrinology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, U.K
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