An isolated pituitary metastasis as presentation of a differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma mimicking a nonfunctioning macroadenoma

J Endocrinol Invest. 2007 May;30(5):428-33. doi: 10.1007/BF03346322.

Abstract

The differential diagnosis of sellar masses may be complex. Metastatic disease constitutes 1% of all pituitary lesions and sometimes mimics the clinical-radiological presentation of pituitary adenoma. The definitive diagnosis usually relies on histology, but occasionally even histological features of pituitary metastasis may resemble those of adenomas. We present a patient initially diagnosed with pituitary adenoma, but whose clinical course finally revealed pituitary metastasis of a hepatocellular carcinoma. The existing literature on this topic is reviewed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / pathology*
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / secondary*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / secondary*