Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a clinical syndrome caused by acute haemorrhage and/or infarction of the pituitary gland, generally within a frequently undiagnosed pituitary adenoma. The sudden increase in pituitary gland volume is responsible for typical symptoms: severe headache, nausea, vomiting, visual impairment, cranial nerve palsies, deteriorating level of consciousness, and hypopituitarism. Radiological evidence, especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which is the most sensitive diagnostic modality, establishes the diagnosis. Multiple risk factors have been reported, although the majority of cases have no identifiable precipitants. The management strategy depends on the clinical manifestation, as well as the presence of co-morbidities, and remains controversial. Post apoplexy, there needs to be careful monitoring for recurrence of tumour growth and endocrinological function of the pituitary. This disease is rare but potentially life-threatening without rapid treatment. Because there are no randomised studies, it is suggested that further trials are needed to optimise proper management.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.5603/PJNNS.a2019.0054 | DOI Listing |
Case Rep Endocrinol
January 2025
Unidad Académica de Endocrinología y Metabolismo, Hospital de Clínicas "Dr. Manuel Quíntela", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Prolactinomas are the most prevalent subtype of pituitary adenomas and represent one of the leading etiological factors responsible for amenorrhea and infertility in women. The primary therapeutic approach entails the use of dopamine agonists, which effectively restore fertility. In cases of microprolactinomas, the likelihood of experiencing a symptomatic enlargement of the tumor during pregnancy is exceptionally low, estimated at a mere 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Case Rep Intern Med
December 2024
Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, Porto, Portugal.
Unlabelled: Haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome is a poorly understood, life-threatening multisystemic condition related to pregnancy with a rapid onset, typically observed in patients with severe pre-eclampsia. Various mechanisms may lead to diffuse endothelial damage associated with HELLP and possible brain involvement. A comprehensive review of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases was conducted to examine the clinical, laboratory and radiological features associated with postpartum HELLP syndrome, particularly its potential association with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
Department of Neurosurgery, NMC Royal Hospital, Abu Dhabi, ARE.
Patients presenting with acute onset of headache and ophthalmoplegia are clinically diagnosed as having a pituitary adenoma with apoplexy. Rarely, other diseases can mimic this condition clinically and radiologically, requiring a high index of suspicion to reach the correct diagnosis. We present a case of a 37-year-old male of Indian origin, who had intra- and supra-sellar tuberculosis (TB), presenting with classical clinical features of pituitary apoplexy and constitutional symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSurg Neurol Int
December 2024
Department of Neurosurgery Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York, United States.
Background: Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a rare, life-threatening clinical syndrome that occurs in response to acute ischemic infarction or hemorrhage of a pituitary adenoma. We report two cases of sudden neurologic and visual decline in patients with pituitary region masses in coronavirus disease (COVID)-positive patients with a focus on potential pathophysiological mechanisms and a safe approach to treatment.
Case Description: Case one is a 58-year-old male presenting with sudden-onset headache and visual disturbance.
Pituitary
December 2024
Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
Purpose: Rathke's cleft cysts (RCC) are present in up to 20% of autopsy studies but only a minority necessitate surgical treatment. Inflammation of RCC is thought to be significant in three processes: the development of classical symptoms, a predisposition to rupture or apoplexy, and increasing the rate of RCC recurrence. We aim to characterize clinical presentation, histological and radiological findings in patients with surgically managed RCC.
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