Ectopic Adrenocorticotropic Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma in the Clivus Region: A Case Report

Abstract

Yan Zhang, Danrong Wu, Ruoqiu Wang, Min Luo, Dong Wang, Kaiyue Wang, Yi Ai, Li Zheng, Qiao Zhang, Lixin Shi Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Guiqian International General Hospital, Guiyang, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qiao Zhang; Lixin Shi, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Guiqian International General Hospital, Guiyang, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax [phone], Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Ectopic pituitary adenoma (EPA) is a pituitary adenoma unrelated to the intrasellar component and is an extremely rare disease. EPA resembles typical pituitary adenomas in morphology, immunohistochemistry, and hormonal activity, and it may present with specific or non-specific endocrine manifestations. Here, we report a rare case of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenoma in the clival region. Only three patients with ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas occurring in the clivus have been previously reported, and the present case was diagnosed as a clivus-ectopic ACTH-secreting pituitary macroadenoma. Thus, in addition to the more common organs, such as the lung, thymus, and pancreas, in the diagnosis of ectopic ACTH syndrome, special attention should be paid to the extremely rare ectopic ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma of the clivus region.Keywords: ectopic pituitary adenoma, Cushing’s syndrome, clivus, adrenocorticotropic hormone, endocrine

Keywords

• ectopic pituitary adenoma
• cushing’s syndrome
• clivus
• adrenocorticotropic hormone
• endocrine