[Non-functioning pituitary carcinoma: report of two cases and review of literature].

OBJECTIVE: Pituitary carcinoma is extremely rare. We report two cases of non-functioning pituitary carcinoma treated in our hospital. The two female patients, aged 39 and 40 years, were diagnosed by CT and MRI and postoperative pathological examination. The tumor was surgically resected followed by stereotactic radiotherapy. Despite of the treatments, both of the patients showed tumor recurrence and died at 1 and 2 months after discharge. The diagnosis of this disease relies on a combined evaluation of the clinical, radiological, cytological, immunohistochemical features. Due to the highly malignant nature and poor prognosis of this disease, early surgical intervention and systemic evaluation of the patients' condition are imperative. Currently more effective therapeutic approaches are needed to control the tumor progression.