Primary pituitary fibrosarcoma presenting with multiple metastases: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Even though many cases of pituitary fibrosarcoma (PF) have been reported, the etiologic classification of these tumors, however, remains undefined. Moreover, owing to the paucity of available case studies, the clinical characteristics of primary pituitary fibrosarcoma (PPF) have not been fully described. We report a 26-year-old female with pathologically confirmed PPF, who presented with features of elevated intracranial pressure, oculomotor nerve palsy, field defects and panhypopituitarism. Despite the combination therapy, which included tumor removal, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated multiple intracranial and extracranial metastases at a seven-month follow-up, and the survival duration from diagnosis was only 11 months. Based on a review of the literature, we propose preliminary etiologic classification criteria for PF as well as a new therapeutic approach to reduce PPF recurrence and metastasis, including extended surgical resection and postoperative whole-brain radiotherapy.