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Pituitary
Published in: Pituitary 1/2016

01-02-2016

Non-metastatic squamous cell carcinoma within a Rathke’s cleft cyst

Authors: Brian T. O’Neill, Konstantinos Segkos, Ekkehard M. Kasper, Johanna A. Pallotta

Published in: Pituitary | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Introduction

Primary intracranial and sellar squamous cell carcinoma is an extremely rare entity, usually caused by malignant transformation of epidermoid cysts, or very rarely other non-malignant epithelial cysts. Malignant transformation of a Rathke’s cleft cyst has never been described.

Case Description

We present a 49-year-old male patient who presented with a 3-month history of progressive frontotemporal headaches. Imaging revealed a 1.2 cm cystic pituitary mass consistent with a hemorrhagic Rathke’s cleft cyst. The patient underwent trans-sphenoidal resection of the pituitary cyst, and pathologic analysis revealed a squamous cell carcinoma lining a Rathke’s cleft cyst. Extensive imaging and otorhinolaryngologic evaluation revealed no primary source for metastasis.

Conclusions

We feel this represents the first case of a patient with a pituitary lesion in which presentation and MRI imaging were consistent with Rathke’s cleft cyst, yet histology revealed squamous cell carcinoma in situ.
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Metadata
Title
Non-metastatic squamous cell carcinoma within a Rathke’s cleft cyst
Authors
Brian T. O’Neill
Konstantinos Segkos
Ekkehard M. Kasper
Johanna A. Pallotta
Publication date
01-02-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Pituitary / Issue 1/2016
Print ISSN: 1386-341X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7403
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-015-0638-5

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