pituitary apoplexy


pi·tu·i·tar·y ap·o·plex·y

a syndrome of abrupt onset, consisting of impaired consciousness, retroorbital pain, meningism, ophthalmoplegia, and rapidly progressive visual loss resulting from infarction of the pituitary gland, often because of a hemorrhage into a pituitary adenoma.

pituitary apoplexy

Acute life-threatening hemorrhagic infarction of the anterior pituitary or adenohypophysis, often associated with an infarcted pituitary adenoma or other tumor; PA may occur spontaneously, or due to an 'obstetric' hemorrhage–eg, Sheehan syndrome, regional RT, ↑ intracranial pressure, or systemic anticoagulation Clinical The PA 'syndrome' may be transient or permanent; it is characterized by sudden headache, loss of vision, ophthalmoplegia, and if severe, shock Lab ↓ Growth hormone, ↓ gonadotropins, ↓ ACTH, ↓ TSH–with hypothyroidism, abnormal prolactin secretion, rarely, diabetes insipidus Treatment Hormone replacement, bromocriptine

pituitary apoplexy

Hemorrhage into or necrosis of the pituitary gland. Symptoms may include sudden headache, oculomotor palsy, peripheral visual deficits, and altered mental status. Treatment usually includes prompt administration of adrenal steroids. See also: apoplexy

pi·tu·i·tar·y ap·o·plex·y

(pi-tūi-tar-ē apŏ-plek-sē) Syndrome of abrupt onset, consisting of impaired consciousness, retroorbital pain, meningism, ophthalmoplegia, and rapidly progressive visual loss resulting from infarction of pituitary gland.