Ectopic Adrenocorticotropic Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma in the Clivus Region: A Case Report

Ectopic pituitary adenoma (EPA) is a pituitary adenoma unrelated to the intrasellar component and is an extremely rare disease. EPA resembles typical pituitary adenomas in morphology, immunohistochemistry, and hormonal activity, and it may present with specific or non-specific endocrine manifestations. Here, we report a rare case of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)secreting pituitary adenoma in the clival region. Only three patients with ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas occurring in the clivus have been previously reported, and the present case was diagnosed as a clivus-ectopic ACTH-secreting pituitary macroadenoma. Thus, in addition to the more common organs, such as the lung, thymus, and pancreas, in the diagnosis of ectopic ACTH syndrome, special attention should be paid to the extremely rare ectopic ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma of the clivus region.

Automated summary

This article reports a rare case of ectopic ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma in the clival region. In addition to the more common organs, special attention should be paid to ectopic ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas in the clivus region when diagnosing ectopic ACTH syndrome.