Symptomatic pituitary tumor enlargement after induced pregnancy

Abstract

A case is presented and 11 others are reviewed in which symptomatic pituitary tumor enlargement occurred during pregnancies that resulted from induced ovulation. The syndrome is usually characterized by headache and visual disturbances with bitemporal visual field abnormalities, but may present with ocular muscle palsies. The cases are divided into two groups. The patients in one group had a shorter duration of amenorrhea (3.8 years), developed symptoms before the 14th week of pregnancy, and were usually treated by tumor removal. Patients in the second group had a longer period of amenorrhea (10.2 years), developed symptoms after the 24th week of pregnancy, and their symptoms regressed with delivery of the infant. Tumor removal or termination of the pregnancy both resulted in resolution of symptoms. All pregnancies resulted in normal infants. This series provides guidelines for management of future cases.