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Pituitary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma presenting with panhypopituitarism: a case report
- Source :
- BMC Cancer
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Background Metastasis to the pituitary gland is extremely rare and is often detected incidentally by symptoms associated with endocrine dysfunction. Breast and lung cancer are the most common primary metastasizing to pituitary gland. Metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma to the pituitary gland is extremely rare, with only 10 cases having been previously reported. We present here the first case of pituitary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma presenting with panhypopituitarism diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. Case presentation We report the case of an 80-year-old Japanese woman who presented with the sudden onset of hypotension and bradycardia after having previously been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. Based on low levels of pituitary hormones, she was diagnosed with panhypopituitarism caused by metastasis of the hepatocellular carcinoma to the pituitary gland. Magnetic resonance imaging with arterial spin-labeling was effective in the differential diagnosis of the intrasellar tumor. The patient died despite hormone replacement therapy because of hypovolemic shock. Conclusion Metastasis to the pituitary gland causes various non-specific symptoms, so it is difficult to diagnose. The present case emphasizes the importance of diagnostic imaging in identifying these metastases. Clinicians should consider the possibility of pituitary metastasis in patients with malignant tumors who demonstrate hypopituitarism.
- Subjects :
- Oncology
Cancer Research
Pituitary gland
medicine.medical_specialty
Pathology
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Biopsy
Case Report
Hypopituitarism
Pituitary neoplasm
Metastasis
Diagnosis, Differential
Fatal Outcome
Internal medicine
Metastasis to pituitary gland
Genetics
medicine
Carcinoma
Humans
Pituitary Neoplasms
Lung cancer
Aged, 80 and over
business.industry
Liver Neoplasms
medicine.disease
Immunohistochemistry
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
medicine.anatomical_structure
Female
Differential diagnosis
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14712407
- Volume :
- 15
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- BMC cancer
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....3913986cfb6805bb0a5cfced38863008