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Lung cancer presents as Addisonian crisis secondary to a solitary pituitary metastasis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2009

Aruna Turaka*
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology
Rosaleen B. Parsons
Affiliation:
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
Mark K. Buyyounouski
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology
*
Correspondence to: Mark K. Buyyounouski, Department of Radiation Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

We present the case of 68-year-old white man who presented with lung cancer in Addisonian crisis due to a pituitary metastasis. He was successfully treated with radiotherapy which reversed his visual field deficits. Pituitary metastasis as the first manifestation of malignancy is rare but, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with endocrine disturbances and visual problems.

Type
Case Report
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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