Matejka Matthias, Gellen Janos S, Kraus Theo, Griessenauer Christoph J, Ueberschaer Moritz F
Department of Neurosurgery, Chrisitan Doppler Clinic Salzburg, Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, AUT.
Department of Neuroradiology, Chrisitan Doppler Clinic Salzburg, Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, AUT.
Cureus. 2025 Jul 17;17(7):e88146. doi: 10.7759/cureus.88146. eCollection 2025 Jul.
This article presents the first documented case of a 61-year-old patient who underwent radical transnasal transsphenoidal endoscopic resection of a pituitary metastasis from a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tonsils. Only two other cases of pituitary metastases in SCC have been described in the literature to date. The patient was diagnosed with p16 and human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive tonsillar SCC in June 2022. After initial radiotherapy and cisplatin-based chemotherapy, the patient had to undergo repeat surgeries due to local tumor recurrence. At that time, there was no evidence of metastatic disease. In August 2024, 26 months after the initial diagnosis, the patient presented to another institution with severe headaches, dizziness, nocturia, and pollakiuria. Laboratory tests revealed panhypopituitarism as well as diabetes insipidus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intra- and suprasellar mass with increased F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). A transcranial biopsy was performed that confirmed the diagnosis of a pituitary metastasis. Since radiotherapy carried a significant risk of impacting the unaffected optical system and the effect of chemotherapy was unknown, the interdisciplinary tumor board decided on resection. The patient underwent an extended endoscopic endonasal approach for radical tumor removal. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient received adjuvant radiochemotherapy and pituitary hormone replacement. Postoperative chemotherapy and radiation led to progression of the underlying disease, and the patient had to be switched to best supportive care six months after surgery. This is the first case that reports the feasibility of a radical resection of a pituitary metastasis of SCC via the endoscopic endonasal approach. This paper reviews the risk factors, radiographic presentation, treatment, and follow-up of patients with pituitary metastases from oropharyngeal cancer.
本文介绍了首例有记录的61岁患者,该患者接受了经鼻蝶窦内镜根治性切除术,以切除扁桃体鳞状细胞癌(SCC)的垂体转移瘤。迄今为止,文献中仅描述了另外两例SCC垂体转移的病例。该患者于2022年6月被诊断为p16和人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)阳性的扁桃体SCC。在初始放疗和顺铂化疗后,由于局部肿瘤复发,患者不得不接受再次手术。当时,没有转移疾病的证据。2024年8月,即初次诊断26个月后,该患者因严重头痛、头晕、夜尿症和尿频就诊于另一机构。实验室检查显示全垂体功能减退以及尿崩症。磁共振成像(MRI)显示鞍内和鞍上有肿块,正电子发射断层扫描/计算机断层扫描(PET/CT)显示氟代脱氧葡萄糖(FDG)摄取增加。进行了经颅活检,确诊为垂体转移瘤。由于放疗对未受影响的视觉系统有重大风险,且化疗效果未知,多学科肿瘤委员会决定进行切除术。患者接受了扩大的鼻内镜经鼻入路以根治性切除肿瘤。术后过程顺利,患者接受了辅助放化疗和垂体激素替代治疗。术后化疗和放疗导致基础疾病进展,患者在手术后六个月不得不转为最佳支持治疗。这是首例报告经鼻内镜入路根治性切除SCC垂体转移瘤可行性的病例。本文回顾了口咽癌垂体转移患者的危险因素、影像学表现、治疗及随访情况。