Infundibular metastasis and panhypopituitarism.

A patient with no known history of primary neoplasia presented with panhypopituitarism secondary to metastasis. Complete anterior pituitary failure was documented by pituitary reserve testing. However, at autopsy there was extensive carcinomatous invasion of the hypothalamus and infundibulum but no adenohypophyseal involvement. The possibility of metastatic disease should be considered in patients presenting with panhypopituitarism. The literature covering this topic is reviewed.