Hypopituitarism caused by colonic carcinoma metastasis associated with hypophysial aspergillosis

: Pituitary metastases constitute 1% to 8.3% of all metastatic brain tumors. The most frequent localization is in the posterior lobe and diabetes insipidus may be the only symptom of dysfunction. Cerebral aspergillosis is an unusual disease and it has been described complicating an underlying malignancy or following intracraneal surgery. We describe a case of hypopituitarism and hyperprolactinemia in a patient with pituitary metastases of a colon carcinoma and aspergillosis. Two years before a colon adenocarcinoma (Class C1 of Duke) had been resected. There were no clinical signs of hypopituitarism or galactorrea. The laboratory findings showed deficiency of cortocotropin (ACTH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and slight hyperprolactinemia (PRL). Cerebral magnetic resonance image (MRI) revealed an intra and suprasellar mass which extended to the hypothalamus. Chest X-ray film and computed tomographic scanning (TC) confirmed a macronodular mass at the apical segment of the inferior left lung lobule with mediastinal hypertrophic lymph nodes. A non functional pituitary tumor was diagnosed and transphenoidal surgery was carried out. At microscopic examination a malignant proliferation was found suggesting colonic differentiation. Fragments of tumoral pituitary tissue showed hyphae of aspergillus in the form of abscess. Aspergillosis complicating neoplastic disease is more often present in leukemia and lymphoma than in solid tumors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)