J Korean Neurosurg Soc.
2001 Jun;30(6):724-728.
Clinical Analysis of Pituitary Apoplexy
- Affiliations
-
- 1Departement of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Pituitary apoplexy is a well-described clinical syndrome resulting from pituitary hemorrhage, hemorrhagic infarction, or infarction, almost invariably occurring in the presence of an adenoma. We analyzed pituitary apoplexy with an emphasis on clinical presentation, pathology and predisposing factors.
METHODS
We reviewed 35 histologically proven pituitary adenomas, operated from January 1995 to August 1999, to select 8 cases which showed clinical or operative findings compatible with pituitary apoplexy. These patients were analyzed in terms of symptom and sign, hormonal status, and predisposing factors, pathologic findings.
RESULTS
Among 35 surgically treated tumors of the pituitary gland, 8 cases(23%) were diagnosed as pituitary apoplexy. The pathologic findings revealed hemorrhage(7 cases) and infarction(1 case) of pituitary adenomas. One case had predisposing factor of appendectomy. The most common presenting symptom and sign were sudden severe headache and visual disturbance.
CONCLUSION
We treated pituitary apoplexy surgically and obtained good outcomes. Pituitary apoplexy due to massive infarction of the pituitary gland is very rare condition but surgical treatment by trans-spheniodal surgery showed a good result.
