Pituitary metastasis from uterine cervical carcinoma: a case presenting as diabetes insipidus

Br J Neurosurg. 2000 Apr;14(2):156-9. doi: 10.1080/02688690050004651.

Abstract

The authors report a case of symptomatic pituitary metastasis from an adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. Only two cases of intrasellar metastasis from an adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix have been previously reported; both were identified at autopsy. Our patient presented with clinical features of diabetes insipidus and a right sixth nerve palsy. Trans-sphenoidal surgery was performed and partial removal of the tumour was achieved. The tumour was an epidermoidal carcinoma of the uterine cervix located primarily in the posterior lobe of the pituitary. The patient's neurological symptoms were relieved following surgery. The possibility of a secondary location must always be considered in a differential diagnosis when treating an intrasellar lesion in a patient with a documented primary malignancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / complications
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary*
  • Contrast Media
  • Diabetes Insipidus / diagnosis
  • Diabetes Insipidus / etiology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / complications
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Contrast Media