The presence of distant metastases may be asymptomatic in patients who
present with symptoms and signs due to the local mass effects of an i
nvasive pituitary adenoma. A case of pituitary carcinoma in a 54-year-
old man who presented with widespread asymptomatic distant metastases
12 years after initial diagnosis is reviewed. The long course and asym
ptomatic metastases suggested a relatively slow-growing malignancy. Th
e factors that played a role in the pathogenesis of the metastasis are
unknown. A review of the litera on pituitary carcinoma suggests that
accurate diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach to management of s
uch lesions emphasizing surgery, radiotherapy, and hormonal manipulati
on may provide these patients with the longest and best quality of sur
vival.