A Rare Coincidence of Non-keratinizing Nasopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and Pituitary Adenoma: A Case Report
Abstract
This is the first reported case of the coexistence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and pituitary adenoma in a 36-year-old female. The case is significant due to the rarity of these two tumors occurring simultaneously and the diagnostic challenges posed by overlapping symptoms. The patient presented with a history of chronic nocturnal headaches localized to the temporal region. Initial symptoms included six months of amenorrhea, massive bilateral galactorrhea, and classic clinical signs of acromegaly. The nasopharyngeal mass was initially missed during early evaluations, as the patient was primarily assessed for a secreting pituitary adenoma. The
nasopharyngeal mass was detected for the first time during rhinoplasty using an endoscope. Histopathological examination confirmed differentiated nonkeratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma alongside a pituitary adenoma. During radiotherapy for the nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the patient developed visual symptoms, including ptosis and outward deviation of the eye. The patient declined surgical excision of the pituitary adenoma; therefore, the radiotherapy field was expanded to include the adenoma. The radiotherapy dose was 70 Gy, delivered in 35 sessions. After three months of expanded radiotherapy, all symptoms, including
headaches and visual disturbances, were completely resolved. Follow-up after 14 months showed no evidence of recurrence or disease progression.
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| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 10 No 2 (2025): March-April | |
| Section | Case Report(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/crcp.v10i2.19897 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Nasopharyngeal neoplasms Pituitary adenoma Radiotherapy | ||
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