Pituitary apoplexy.
Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a rare clinical syndrome caused by sudden hemorrhaging and/or infarction of the pituitary gland, generally within a pituitary adenoma. The main symptom is sudden-onset severe headache, associated with visual disorders or ocular palsy. Corticotropic deficiency may be life-threatening if left untreated. Computed tomography (CT) or MRI confirms the diagnosis by revealing a pituitary tumor with hemorrhagic and/or necrotic components. PA used to be considered a neurosurgical emergency but a conservative approach is increasingly used in selected patients, as it yields similar outcomes. Glucocorticoid treatment must always be started immediately after onset.
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Department of Endocrinology and Reproductive Diseases, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre F-94275, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Department of Endocrinology and Reproductive Diseases, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre F-94275, France.
Claire
C
Briet
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Department of Endocrinology and Reproductive Diseases, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre F-94275, France.
Sylvie
S
Salenave
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Department of Endocrinology and Reproductive Diseases, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre F-94275, France; Univ Paris-Sud, School of Medicine, Orsay F-91405, France; Insitut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unit 693, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, F-94276, France. Electronic address: philippe.chanson@bct.aphp.fr.
Philippe
P
Chanson
D006801:Humans; D010899:Pituitary Apoplexy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*
Corticotropic deficiency; Emergency; Hemorrhage; Magnetic resonance imaging; Necrosis; Neurosurgery; Pituitary adenoma; Pituitary apoplexy