Atypical metastatic sites for adenocarcinoma of the lung

Lung carcinomas have a high propensity to metastasize to the liver, adrenal, bone or brain. However, certain atypical intracranial sites may occur. We report two cases of adenocarcinoma of the lung discovered by peculiar brain metastases. The first patient presented with an orbital apex syndrome due to a metastasis to the cavernous sinus with intraorbital extension. The second patient presented with headache and visual loss due to metastasis to the pituitary. Intrasellar and parasellar metastases are rare sequelae of pulmonary neoplasms. Etiological diagnosis is based on imaging and sampling or biopsy. They are often associated with a poor prognosis. The differential diagnosis of an intracranial process in the area of the sella should include metastasis even in the absence of a known primary cancer.