Case Report
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World J Respirol. Mar 28, 2014; 4(1): 8-10
Published online Mar 28, 2014. doi: 10.5320/wjr.v4.i1.8
Solitary pituitary metastasis resulting from pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma
Takuya Watanabe, Kyoichi Kaira, Masafumi Mizuide, Noriaki Sunaga, Nobuyuki Shibusawa, Takeshi Hisada, Tetsurou Satoh, Masatomo Mori, Masanobu Yamada
Takuya Watanabe, Kyoichi Kaira, Masafumi Mizuide, Noriaki Sunaga, Nobuyuki Shibusawa, Takeshi Hisada, Tetsurou Satoh, Masatomo Mori, Masanobu Yamada, Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
Author contributions: Watanabe T and Kaira K designed the research, acquired the patient data and drafted the paper; Mizuide M and Shibusawa N collected and reviewed the patient’s information; Sunaga N, Hisada T and Satoh T advised on the management of the patient; Mori M and Yamada M made critical revisions to the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to: Kyoichi Kaira, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan. kkaira1970@yahoo.co.jp
Telephone: +81-27-2208136 Fax: +81-27-2208136
Received: July 12, 2013
Revised: October 16, 2013
Accepted: March 3, 2014
Published online: March 28, 2014
Processing time: 258 Days and 0.9 Hours
Abstract

Solitary pituitary metastasis is a rare phenomenon in human neoplasms. We report a case of lung cancer with the initial manifestation of endocrinopathy resulting from pituitary metastasis. The patient’s initial diagnosis was a poorly differentiated carcinoma, however, morbid anatomy revealed a definite diagnosis of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). Clinical physicians should be aware of potential initial manifestations such as endocrine abnormalities including panhypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus due to solitary pituitary metastasis. This case demonstrates that an endocrine abnormality such as panhypopituitarism could be an initial manifestation of LCNEC.

Keywords: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma; Pituitary metastasis; Solitary; Endocrinopathy

Core tip: Solitary pituitary metastasis is a rare phenomenon in human neoplasms. An endocrine abnormality such as panhypopituitarism could be an initial manifestation of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.