Hypophyseal metastatic hypernephroma mimicking a pituitary adenoma. Case report

Neurosurg Rev. 1992;15(4):319-22. doi: 10.1007/BF00257817.

Abstract

A patient with a remote history of nephrectomy for hypernephroma presented a visual field defect with hypopituitarism. Neuro-imaging studies showed a highly vascularized sellar mass with suprasellar extension. Surgery, which was performed via the subfrontal approach, disclosed the pituitary tumor to be a hypernephroma. Although anterior pituitary involvement is rare, chiasmal compression is much rarer in metastatic pituitary carcinomas, a review of previously reported cases of metastatic pituitary hypernephroma and our own case indicated that pituitary metastasis from this carcinoma, in contrast to other metastatic pituitary tumors, often mimics pituitary adenoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / pathology
  • Adenoma / surgery
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / secondary*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / surgery
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Pituitary Gland / pathology
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / surgery