Primary pituitary carcinoma with spinal cord metastasis--case report

The authors report a rare case of non-functioning pituitary carcinoma with spinal cord metastasis. A 37-year-old female presented with a 2-month history of right retro-orbital ache and vomiting. She had a pituitary adenoma removed 3 years prior to admission. Neuroradiologically, a mass lesion was demonstrated in the right middle cranial fossa. The tumor was removed through craniotomy and was histologically diagnosed as pituitary carcinoma. One week after the operation, tetraplegia developed and CT scans demonstrated a spinal canal lesion. Although the tumor was removed through C3-C7 laminectomies, she gradually deteriorated and died. At autopsy, a tumor was disclosed in the right temporal lobe and basal ganglia. Moreover, the tumor invaded into the middle cranial fossa and the parasellar region.