BACKGROUND

Patients with pituitary metastasis (PM) have a relatively poor prognosis. We describe the presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with PM.

SUBJECTS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with PM at a single institution from 1996 to 2015. Eighty-five patients diagnosed with metastasis to the pituitary or sella turcica by pathology or based on a combination of neuroimaging and clinical findings were included. Univariate and multivariable Cox regressions evaluated associations between clinical factors and overall survival.

RESULTS

The most frequent sites of primary malignancies resulting in PM were lung (26%) and breast (26%). Median age at diagnosis was 60 years (range, 18-95). The most common complaints at diagnosis included visual deficits (62%), headache (47%), and cranial nerve palsy (31%). Seventy percent of patients had pituitary insufficiency-adrenal insufficiency (59%), hypothyroidism (59%), or diabetes insipidus (28%). Management of PM included radiation therapy (76%), chemotherapy (68%), surgical resection (21%), or combination therapy (71%). Fifty percent and 52% of patients who received surgical treatment and irradiation, respectively, reported symptomatic improvement. Median overall survival (OS) was 16.5 months (95% confidence interval: 10.7-25.4). On multivariable analysis, a primary cancer site other than lung or breast (p = .020), age <60 years (p = .030), and surgical resection (p = .016) were associated with longer OS.

CONCLUSION

Patients <60 years of age, those with primary tumor sites other than lung or breast, and those who undergo surgical resection of the pituitary lesion may have prolonged survival. Surgical resection and radiation treatment resulted in symptomatic improvement in ~50% of patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This study is the largest original series of patients with metastatic disease to the sella. In patients with pituitary metastasis, younger age, primary site other than lung or breast, and metastatic resection may prolong survival. Resection and radiation led to symptomatic improvement in ∼50% of patients. Seventy percent of patients had hypopituitarism. These hormonal deficiencies can be life threatening and can result in substantial morbidity if left untreated. Patients should be treated using a multimodality approach-including a potential role for surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone replacement-with the goal of improving survival and quality of life.