Pituitary metastasis of rhabdomyosarcoma: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction. The pituitary gland is an uncommon site for metastases, in particular from rhabdomyosarcoma. Some authors have reported a recent increase in the incidence of metastases at infrequent sites, such as brain or bone, probably due to the expanded treatment options and the resulting improved survival. Treatment options are limited, but must be discussed and adapted to the patient profile. Case presentation. We report the case of a 17-year-old Arabic man, diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma of the left shoulder, who, after several cycles of chemotherapy, presented symptoms and signs of pituitary dysfunction. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first case described. Conclusions: Pituitary metastasis of rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare situation, which must be actively researched to have access to an optimal therapeutic approach. © 2014Ismail et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.