Clinical features of tumor metastasis to the pituitary

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The clinical features of 11 patients with metastases to the posterior pituitary are described. Carcinoma of the breast was the most common primary tumor. Diabetes insipidus was the presenting feature of pituitary involvement and occurred in 0.95% of the patients with breast cancer. Metastatic destruction of the posterior pituitary was the cause in 20% of the patients seen with diabetes insipidus since 1954. Anterior pituitary insufficiency was not seen. Metastasis to the posterior pituitary is more common than is generally thought and should be considered in all patients with cancer, and especially in those with breast cancer, who develop polyuria and polydypsia.