Fernández Delara-Barrera Y, Villaseñor E, Sánchez O, Martínez LM, Roldán VE

Language: Spanish
References: 20
Page: 74-78
PDF size: 153.37 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Pituitary apoplexy is an infrequent complication of the pituitary adenomas, the term describes an acute clinical syndrome, characterized by sudden onset of headache, vomiting, visual disturbance, ophthalmoplegia, and altered consciousness. It is caused by acute hemorrhage or ischemic infarction of the pituitary gland, almost invariably occurring in the presence of a pituitary adenoma. There is compression of adjacent structures that elicits the variable expression of symptoms referable to displacement of the optic nerves and chiasm and impingement of the third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerves. Following apoplexy, hypofunctioning (transient or permanent) of normal pituitary tissue appears to be the rule. MRI evaluation is the imaging method of choice. When apoplexy is suspected, immediate steroid substitution should be started and fluid and electrolyte balance should be monitored closely. Early transsphenoidal decompression of apoplectic tumours is associated with improvement of neurological complications with low morbidity and mortality. We showed the classical imaging findings in a case of pituitary aplopexy with emphasis in the behavior of tumor in different sequences, a brief review of the literature with remarks about clinical symptoms and treatment is included.

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