Cryptic pituitary hemorrhage presenting with headache

Abstract

We report a case of pituitary hemorrhage and review the literature on that condition. Our patient presented with a sudden bifrontal headache associated with vague transient visual blurring but without nausea or other associated symptoms. After a negative workup at another hospital, including an unremarkable brain computed tomography without contrast, and resolution of headache following treatment with injectable sumatriptan, he was diagnosed with "atypical migraine." The patient's symptoms soon returned, and brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enlarged, cystic pituitary gland with a small intraparenchymal hemorrhage.