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Progression of a Nelson’s adenoma to pituitary carcinoma; a case report and review of the literature

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 July 1999

Abstract

A 25-year-old woman developed Nelson’s syndrome, 3 years after successful bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing’s disease. Despite pituitary surgery and radiotherapy the tumour showed invasive growth, Ieading to visual disturbance, paresis of the oculomotor nerve and, 34 years after adrenalectomy, to death by widespread purulent leptomeningitis. Autopsy revealed a large adenohypophyseal carcinoma with a metastasis attached to the dura, both tumours showing immunocytochemical staining for ACTH and TSH. We review the literature on metastatic adenohypophyseal carcinoma in Cushing’s disease and Nelson’s syndrome and discuss the role of proliferation markers as indicators of malignant progression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Endocrinology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    S. A. G. Kemink, G. F. F. M. Pieters, A. R. M. M. Hermus & A. G. H. Smals

  2. Dept of Neurology, University Hospital Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    P. Wesseling

  3. Dept of Pathology, University Hospital Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    P. Wesseling & A. A. J. Verhofstad

Authors
  1. S. A. G. Kemink
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  2. P. Wesseling
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  3. G. F. F. M. Pieters
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  5. A. R. M. M. Hermus
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  6. A. G. H. Smals
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An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03343613.

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Kemink, S.A.G., Wesseling, P., Pieters, G.F.F.M. et al. Progression of a Nelson’s adenoma to pituitary carcinoma; a case report and review of the literature. J Endocrinol Invest 22, 70–75 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345482

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