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Drop metastasis of adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing pituitary carcinoma to the cauda equina.
Abstract: The diagnosis of pituitary carcinoma cannot be made easily histologically, and most cases of pituitary carcinoma are diagnosed only after the clinical detection of metastasis. Distant metastasis of pituitary tumor occurs in 0.1% to 0.2% of cases and has been reported in the liver, bone and central nervous system, with only one case of metastasis to the cauda equine reported. This study describes a rare case of the drop metastasis of adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing pituitary adenocarcinoma to the cauda equina, causing cauda equina syndrome.
Publication Date: 2014-10-18 PubMed ID: 25346823PubMed Central: PMC4206820DOI: 10.4184/asj.2014.8.5.680Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article discusses a rare case of pituitary cancer spreading (metastasizing) to the cauda equina, a bundle of nerve roots at the lower end of the spinal cord, causing cauda equina syndrome.
Introduction and Background
- The research paper begins by noting that diagnosing pituitary carcinoma (a type of brain tumor) can be quite challenging from a histological perspective, meaning it’s difficult to identify using microscopic investigation of tissue changes. This often results in cases being confirmed only after metastasis (the spread of cancer cells to different parts of the body) is clinically detected.
- The article states that distant metastasis of pituitary tumors is relatively rare, occurring in roughly 0.1% to 0.2% of cases. These metastases have been documented in various organs such as the liver, bones, and central nervous system.
- The authors point out that there’s had been only one previous report of metastasis to the cauda equina. The cauda equina, named because of its resemblance to a horse’s tail, is a cluster of nerve roots at the lower end of the vertebral column.
Case Profile
- The primary focus of the study is to describe a unique case in which a patient with Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing pituitary adenocarcinoma experienced metastasis to the cauda equina.
- ACTH is a hormone produced in the pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal glands to release a hormone called cortisol. Overproduction of ACTH can lead to a form of pituitary news called pituitary adenomas, which can become cancerous and develop into pituitary carcinomas.
- In this particular case, the metastasis resulted in cauda equina syndrome. This is a serious neurological condition that causes loss of function of nerve roots of the cauda equina. Common symptoms might include lower back pain, weakness of the muscles of the lower extremities, and bowel or bladder dysfunction.
Treatment and Conclusion
- The study does not specify the course of treatment that was followed for this patient or the eventual outcome. However, the report of this case helps in expanding medical understanding and knowledge regarding the potential for rare metastasis sites in pituitary carcinoma.
- Furthermore, the case emphasizes the need for comprehensive investigation when diagnosing pituitary carcinoma, considering its potential for metastasis which might cause severe neuromuscular conditions like cauda equina syndrome.
Cite This Article
APA
Takeuchi K, Hagiwara Y, Kanaya K, Wada K, Shiba M, Kato Y.
(2014).
Drop metastasis of adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing pituitary carcinoma to the cauda equina.
Asian Spine J, 8(5), 680-683.
https://doi.org/10.4184/asj.2014.8.5.680 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
Conflict of Interest Statement
No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.
References
This article includes 9 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Yang Y, Liang W, Fan K, Yang T, Cheng J. Clinical features of pituitary carcinoma: analysis based on a case report and literature review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024;15:1440247.
- Gamboa NT, Wilkerson C, Kundu B, Sherrod BA, Dailey AT, Couldwell WT. Natural history of pituitary carcinoma with metastasis to the cervical spine: illustrative case. J Neurosurg Case Lessons 2023 Jan 16;5(3).
- Hani U, Tariq Q, Bari A, Anis SB, Diwan A. Benign pituitary adenoma with multiple intracranial metastases-a case report and review of the literature. J Surg Case Rep 2022 May;2022(5):rjab382.
- Davoudi Z, Chouhdari A, Sharifi G, Akbari Dilmaghani N. Tumor invasion to the spinal region after primary surgery: A case report. Caspian J Intern Med 2021;12(Suppl 2):S467-S470.
- Yoo F, Kuan EC, Heaney AP, Bergsneider M, Wang MB. Corticotrophic pituitary carcinoma with cervical metastases: case series and literature review. Pituitary 2018 Jun;21(3):290-301.
- Sheehan NK, Rylander H, Christensen N, Nafe LA. Meningeal dissemination of a pituitary carcinoma to the cauda equina in a dog. Can Vet J 2017 Aug;58(8):839-841.
- Joehlin-Price AS, Hardesty DA, Arnold CA, Kirschner LS, Prevedello DM, Lehman NL. Case report: ACTH-secreting pituitary carcinoma metastatic to the liver in a patient with a history of atypical pituitary adenoma and Cushing's disease. Diagn Pathol 2017 Apr 18;12(1):34.
- Wang YQ, Fan T, Zhao XG, Liang C, Qi XL, Li JY. Pituitary carcinoma with intraspinal metastasis: report of two cases and review of the literature. Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2015;8(8):9712-7.
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