Pituitary apoplexy masquerading as functional decline in an older person.
We report the case of an older lady who was admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital with sub-acute functional decline of two months' duration, which was initially attributed to a concomitant urinary tract infection. Further investigations, however, revealed the diagnosis of pituitary apoplexy with central hypocortisolism. Subsequent treatment with physiological doses of steroids improved patient's function and overall well-being. This report adds to the sparse literature on pituitary apoplexy in the older adults and emphasizes the non-specific presentation of this clinical syndrome.
Geriatric Medicine, National University Health System, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore.
Nydia Camelia
NC
Rais
Department of Geriatrics, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore.
Reshma Aziz
RA
Merchant
Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore.|Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Santhosh Kumar
SK
Seetharaman
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010899:Pituitary Apoplexy / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006854:Hydrocortisone
functional decline; older people; pituitary adenoma; pituitary apoplexy