title: Pituitary apoplexy presenting as monocular blindness.
abstract: The case of a 56-year-old man with sudden onset of retrobulbar headache and progressive loss of vision in his left eye is described. The anatomical position of the chiasm noted during surgical resection of a necrotic pituitary adenoma accounted for this patient's presentation of monocular blindness. We discuss the typical features of pituitary apoplexy and provide a pathophysiological explanation of these signs and symptoms. A differential diagnosis is given and appropriate treatment is described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois 61637.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Noël
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ruthman
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D010899:Pituitary Apoplexy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology