Breast Cancer Metastatic to the Pituitary Gland: Case Report

Background: Metastaseis to the pituitary gland are rare events and usually indicate widespread malignant disease. The lung and the breast are the most common sites of the primary tumour.Moreover this diffusion tends to affects elderly patients. The most frequent symptoms at presentation are diabetes insipidus and visual alterations. Case Presentation: Here we present the case of a 72 year old Caucasian woman treated in 1998 for a breast carcinoma with right supero-external quadrantectomy, radiotherapy, and hormonotherapy. Twelve-years later, she accused bone pain, bilateral progressive visual decline and onset of hypopituitarism. Diagnosis of secondary bone involvement and pituitary metastasis was performed. The description of this case is supported by critical analysis of the clinical and radiological features. Conclusion: The unusual course of the reported disease stresses the importance of intensive follow-up in patients with breast cancer even after many years from diagnosis Our report underlines how diagnosis can be difficult and controversial when relapse occurs at uncommon sites.