Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Pituitary apoplexy is a rare endocrine emergency characterized by the sudden onset of severe headaches, vomiting, visual abnormalities and pituitary dysfunction secondary to an acute hemorrhage or infarction within a pituitary adenoma.

Subjects and methods: We report a retrospective study from 2000 to 2014 of 23 cases with pituitary apoplexy. Their mean age was 38.7 years ±10 years, with a male to female ratio of 2:1. All patients benefited Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results: Pituitary (MRI) showed macroadenomas in all cases. These macroadenomas invade the optical chiasma in 87%, the cavernous sinuses in 48%, the sphenoidal sinus in 39% and have multidirectional extension in 22%. Areas of intratumoral hemorrhage were evident on MRI in 94% leading to the positive diagnosis of pituitary apoplexy which confirms the Importance of pituitary MRI when investigating pituitary apoplexy.

Conclusion: Pituitary apoplexy is a rare life-threatening clinical syndrome caused by infarction or hemorrhage within a pituitary adenoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the investigation of choice and has been shown to confirm the diagnosis in 94% of patients which is compatible with guidelines and results of the literature. Once pituitary apoplexy is diagnosed a multidisciplinary team approach is mandatory in order to improve the outcome of this condition.