Pituitary enlargement and hypopituitarism in patient with lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Metastasis or hypophysitis? Role of imaging

Pituitary gland metastasis is an unusual event, and pituitary metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma is extremely rare and associated with poor prognosis. To date, approximately 16 cases have been reported. Symptoms of these lesions can mimic hypophysitis, that is a possible immune-related adverse even...

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Main Authors: Pier Paolo Arcuri, MD, Vincenzo Aiello, MD, Simonetta Antonelli, MD, Simona Roccia, MD, Francesco Manti, MD, Domenico Laganà, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Radiology Case Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325000238
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author Pier Paolo Arcuri, MD
Vincenzo Aiello, MD
Simonetta Antonelli, MD
Simona Roccia, MD
Francesco Manti, MD
Domenico Laganà, MD
author_facet Pier Paolo Arcuri, MD
Vincenzo Aiello, MD
Simonetta Antonelli, MD
Simona Roccia, MD
Francesco Manti, MD
Domenico Laganà, MD
author_sort Pier Paolo Arcuri, MD
collection DOAJ
description Pituitary gland metastasis is an unusual event, and pituitary metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma is extremely rare and associated with poor prognosis. To date, approximately 16 cases have been reported. Symptoms of these lesions can mimic hypophysitis, that is a possible immune-related adverse event of ICIs (Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors). Pituitary metastases and hypophisitis are life-threatening diseases and making differential diagnosis is important, because therapy of these conditions is quite different. Differentiating a condition from the other one is difficult, because many imaging features are not specific. In this presented case, cross-sectional imaging, in particular Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), has revealed itself helpful to suggest the diagnosis of pituitary metastasis rather than hypophysitis.
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series Radiology Case Reports
spelling doaj-art-c4a0789a4a144c9d8895dbf108ce8a492025-08-20T02:47:45ZengElsevierRadiology Case Reports1930-04332025-04-012041942194710.1016/j.radcr.2025.01.022Pituitary enlargement and hypopituitarism in patient with lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Metastasis or hypophysitis? Role of imagingPier Paolo Arcuri, MD0Vincenzo Aiello, MD1Simonetta Antonelli, MD2Simona Roccia, MD3Francesco Manti, MD4Domenico Laganà, MD5Radiology Unit “De Lellis”, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Renato Dulbecco”, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy; Corresponding author.Rheumatology Clinic “Madonna dello Scoglio” Cotronei, 88836 Crotone, ItalyRadiology Unit “De Lellis”, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Renato Dulbecco”, 88100, Catanzaro, ItalyTotal Quality Unit, Lamezia Terme Hospital, ASP Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, ItalyRadiology Unit “Mater Domini”, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Renato Dulbecco”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy“Magna Græcia” Università di Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy; Radiology Unit “Mater Domini”, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Renato Dulbecco”, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyPituitary gland metastasis is an unusual event, and pituitary metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma is extremely rare and associated with poor prognosis. To date, approximately 16 cases have been reported. Symptoms of these lesions can mimic hypophysitis, that is a possible immune-related adverse event of ICIs (Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors). Pituitary metastases and hypophisitis are life-threatening diseases and making differential diagnosis is important, because therapy of these conditions is quite different. Differentiating a condition from the other one is difficult, because many imaging features are not specific. In this presented case, cross-sectional imaging, in particular Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), has revealed itself helpful to suggest the diagnosis of pituitary metastasis rather than hypophysitis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325000238Pituitary metastasesHypophysitisPituitary glandMRIDWIMR spectroscopy
spellingShingle Pier Paolo Arcuri, MD
Vincenzo Aiello, MD
Simonetta Antonelli, MD
Simona Roccia, MD
Francesco Manti, MD
Domenico Laganà, MD
Pituitary enlargement and hypopituitarism in patient with lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Metastasis or hypophysitis? Role of imaging
Radiology Case Reports
Pituitary metastases
Hypophysitis
Pituitary gland
MRI
DWI
MR spectroscopy
title Pituitary enlargement and hypopituitarism in patient with lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Metastasis or hypophysitis? Role of imaging
title_full Pituitary enlargement and hypopituitarism in patient with lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Metastasis or hypophysitis? Role of imaging
title_fullStr Pituitary enlargement and hypopituitarism in patient with lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Metastasis or hypophysitis? Role of imaging
title_full_unstemmed Pituitary enlargement and hypopituitarism in patient with lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Metastasis or hypophysitis? Role of imaging
title_short Pituitary enlargement and hypopituitarism in patient with lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Metastasis or hypophysitis? Role of imaging
title_sort pituitary enlargement and hypopituitarism in patient with lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors metastasis or hypophysitis role of imaging
topic Pituitary metastases
Hypophysitis
Pituitary gland
MRI
DWI
MR spectroscopy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325000238
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