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Case Reports
. 2023 Aug 15;15(8):e43524.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.43524. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Pituitary Apoplexy as a Complication of COVID-19 Infection

Hassan Hussain  1 , Kvc Janaka  2 , D T Muthukuda  3 , S G Perera  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Pituitary Apoplexy as a Complication of COVID-19 Infection

Hassan Hussain et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a complication occurring due to hemorrhage and/or infarction in a pituitary adenoma due to various pathophysiological mechanisms. Herein, we report a case of a 47-year-old previously healthy male who presented with fever and reduced level of consciousness for one day. During the hospital stay, he was diagnosed with PA in a background of pituitary macroadenoma along with positive nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Even though the PA was successfully managed, the patient succumbed four days after admission due to respiratory failure caused by severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Keywords: covid-19; ground-glass opacities; headache; pituitary apoplexy; pituitary macroadenoma; pneumonia; sellar lesion; thrombocytopenia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) brain sagittal view demonstrating a hyperdense large sellar lesion with hypodensity within the hyperdense area seen. Suprasellar and parasellar extensions were also noted. Indicates a possible pituitary macro adenoma with bleeding into the tumor.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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