Abstract
Hypopituitarism is a rare disorder. Hypopituitarism can present as a deficiency of individual anterior pituitary hormones (e.g., adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, growth hormone) or posterior pituitary hormones (e.g., oxytocin, vasopressin) or as the deficiency of all these pituitary hormones, also known as panhypopituitarism. Here, we discuss a 59-year-old man who presented with two episodes of unwitnessed syncope after an episode of vomiting. On admission, the patient was hypotensive to 88/54 mmHg, afebrile, and with a leukocyte count of 21.43 K/µL (reference range: 3.80 to 10.50 K/µL). CT scan of the head revealed a hyperdensity in the left intracranial internal carotid artery just proximal to the bifurcation, suggesting an artifact or presence of an embolus. Additional findings included a sellar mass with calcifications and suprasellar extensions. The patient was admitted for further workup of syncope. Other differential diagnoses included sepsis, stroke, cardiac arrhythmias, and pulmonary embolism. Sepsis, stroke, and cardiac workup were negative for significant findings. The patient remained persistently hypotensive despite aggressive intravenous hydration, raising suspicion for an underlying endocrine disorder. MRI of the brain was negative for stroke but again was significant for a sellar mass. Additional workup showed a deficiency of all the anterior pituitary hormones likely secondary to mass effect. The patient was diagnosed with panhypopituitarism due to pituitary macroadenoma.
Highlights
There are fewer than 200,000 patients with hypopituitarism in the United States [1]
Hypopituitarism can present as a deficiency of individual anterior pituitary hormones or posterior pituitary hormones or as the deficiency of all these pituitary hormones, known as panhypopituitarism
We describe a patient who presented following a syncopal episode with a wide range of differential diagnoses based on initial laboratory results, clinical course, and workup, leading to the diagnosis of panhypopituitarism
Summary
There are fewer than 200,000 patients with hypopituitarism in the United States [1]. The global incidence is estimated to be 4.2 cases per 100,000 patients per year [1]. Damage to the anterior pituitary can be mild or severe, can present precipitously or insidiously, and can affect the secretion of one or more of its hormones. Hypopituitarism has a wide range of clinical presentations. For example, presents with the rapid development of symptoms causing sudden impairment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion and, the sudden onset of cortisol deficiency symptoms. Hypopituitarism can result from diseases of the pituitary gland or diseases of the hypothalamus. The diseases affecting the pituitary gland secretions include mass lesions, surgery, and radiation to treat mass lesions. We describe a patient who presented following a syncopal episode with a wide range of differential diagnoses based on initial laboratory results, clinical course, and workup, leading to the diagnosis of panhypopituitarism
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