Bleeding intracranial aneurysm? Pituitary apoplexy!

Abstract

Pituitary apoplexy describes the clinical syndrome characterised by headache, visual impairment and ophthalmoplegia caused by sudden enlargement of a pituitary adenoma. This is usually due to extensive tumour infarction or haemorrhage. Pituitary apoplexy is rare, mimics spontaneous intracranial bleeding, and thus may be easily mistaken for acute subarachnoid haemorrhage. Urgent surgical intervention and hormone replacement therapy are required.