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Pituitary metastases: a case series and scoping review
Kaiyun Yang1,2, Sabrina L Begley2, Daniel Lynch2
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada.
Pituitary
|September 12, 2023
Summary
Pituitary gland metastases, often from lung or breast cancer, can cause vision loss and endocrine issues. While surgery may improve vision, it can worsen hormone deficiencies. Survival remains limited despite treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Endocrinology
- Radiation Oncology
Background:
- Pituitary gland metastases are rare but can lead to significant visual and endocrine deficits.
- Understanding the natural history and treatment outcomes is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the natural history of pituitary gland metastases.
- To identify optimal treatment strategies for pituitary gland metastases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of seven patients treated at an institution.
- Scoping review of 166 patients from 71 studies on pituitary metastases.
Main Results:
- Common primary cancers include lung, breast, and renal cell carcinoma.
- Patients frequently present with endocrine dysfunction (hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus) and visual compromise.
- Surgery is associated with improved vision but potentially worsened endocrine function; radiosurgery is also a common treatment.
Conclusions:
- Both radiosurgery and surgical resection are utilized for pituitary metastases with notable responses.
- Surgical resection may enhance visual recovery at the cost of endocrine normalization.
- Despite treatment, overall patient survival is typically less than one year.
