Abstract
Pituitary apoplexy is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition caused by either haemorrhage or infarction of the pituitary gland. In most cases, a pre-existing pituitary macroadenoma is present. Patients present with the clinical syndrome of headache, visual defects or ophthalmoplegia, altered state of consciousness and variable endocrine deficits.
Highlights
Pituitary apoplexy is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition caused by either haemorrhage or infarction of the pituitary gland
Subsequent imaging to plan for transsphenoidal surgery included a CT scan of the skull base and brain, done 3 months after the initial diagnosis, and it was discovered that the sella mass had decreased in size
The first case of a pituitary tumour associated with haemorrhage was described by Bailey in 1898.1 The signs and symptoms of pituitary tumour infarction or haemorrhage are collectively termed ‘pituitary apoplexy’, which term was first used by Brougham et al.[2]
Summary
Febin Joseph, MB ChB Zarina I Lockhat, FFRAD (D) (SA) Malan Janse Van Rensburg, MB ChB, MMed Rad (D), FRCR, FRANZCR Janet Smal, MB ChB, MMed Rad (D) Department of Radiology, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital
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