Pituitary carcinoma is defined by metastasis of a pituitary tumor to a distant location. Although rare, pituitary carcinoma is becoming an increasingly recognized entity among pituitary surgeons. Most pituitary carcinomas have endocrine activity, and as such these lesions may be associated with signs of excess endocrine function. Symptoms also may be a result of direct mass effect. Surgical debulking is the standard treatment for the sellar component of disease. An important recent development has been the discovery that these lesions may significantly respond to systemic chemotherapy. In this review, we will discuss the diagnosis and clinical features of pituitary carcinomas, immunohistochemistry with cytogenetics, and treatment.
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