Symptomatic Occlusion of Internal Carotid Artery Caused by Pituitary Macro Adenoma Among the Patients Without Apoplectic Signs; Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Introduction: Pituitary adenoma producing symptomatic carotid compression of the internal carotid artery without any apoplexy sign would be extremely rare and there was only one report regarding to this condition. Case Presentation: In this case report we have described a 57-year-old woman with a nonfunctional pituitary macro adenoma which has resulted to symptomatic internal carotid occlusion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large pituitary adenoma caused tight stenosis of right internal carotid. The patient has also experienced the transient ischemic attack which has confirmed to be the cause of internal carotid artery occlusion by this macro adenoma tumor. There was not any sign of apoplexy at the time of admission and the patient has not shown a history of pituitary adenoma. The patient then has undergone an endonasal transsphenoidal resection because of this nonfunctional pituitary adenoma. Conclusions: Pituitary macro adenoma producing symptomatic internal carotid occlusion might develop to several serious conditions including transient ischemic attack. Urgent surgical procedure might be the best approach to prevent further severe complications in such patients.