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Updated: May 2, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Malignant transformation of pituitary adenoma to carcinosarcoma: illustrative case
Lin Shaoyong1, Huanxiang Huang2, Mingyue Wang3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Fuzong Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Background:
Carcinosarcomatous transformation is a rare complication following radiotherapy for pituitary adenomas (PAs).
Observations:
The authors report what they believe to be the first case of a benign nonfunctioning PA developing into a carcinosarcoma after surgery and radiotherapy.
Lessons:
Radiotherapy for PAs should account for the risk of secondary intracranial tumors, with long-term follow-up recommended for treated patients. Combined therapeutic strategies may be considered for radiation-induced sarcomas, and comprehensive molecular pathological studies of radiation-induced tumors are imperative for advancing understanding and management. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24765.
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