A metastatic pituitary carcinoid tumor successfully treated with gamma knife radiosurgery

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (Taipei). 2001 Jul;64(7):414-8.

Abstract

Intracranial metastasis occurs in a certain number of patients with carcinoid tumor. However, carcinoid tumor with metastasis to the pituitary gland is extremely rare. Up to the present, no effective treatment for either a metastatic intracranial carcinoid tumor or a metastatic pituitary lesion of any origin has been documented. We have treated a case of metastatic carcinoid tumor of the pituitary gland with transsphenoidal tumor resection followed by gamma knife radiosurgery. A 59-year-old man presented with headache and left oculomotor palsy. He was treated at the same hospital for bronchial atypical carcinoid tumor one and a half years ago. Magnetic resonance image of the brain showed a pituitary tumor. There were no signs of recurrent or metastatic lesion elsewhere despite thorough investigation. Transsphenoidal approach for removal of tumor was done and the pathology turned out to be a metastatic carcinoid tumor. Subsequent gamma knife radiosurgery was given for residual tumor. The oculomotor palsy improved after radiosurgery. No neurological deficit occurred. Follow-up CT scan of the brain showed complete resolution of the tumor. We concluded that gamma knife radiosurgery could be used to treat a metastatic intracranial carcinoid tumor. It can also be used to treat a metastatic lesion of the pituitary gland without causing neurological deficit.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoid Tumor / diagnosis
  • Carcinoid Tumor / secondary
  • Carcinoid Tumor / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Radiosurgery*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed