[Pituitary apoplexy]

Abstract

Pituitary apoplexy results from necrosis or haemorrhage of a pituitary adenoma. This rare complication occurs in 2 to 10% of operated adenomas. The acute form results from massive intrapituitary bleeding leading to violent headache, meningeal signs, impaired conscience and ophthalmology signs, basically bilateral blindness. Associated signs are frequent including paralysis of the oculomotor nerves, epilepsy seizure, hemiplegia. Diabetes insipidis is exceptional. In less acute forms, the sudden nature of the headache and ophthalmology signs can suggest diagnosis. Standard X-ray reveals destruction of the sella turcica. Computed tomography shows either a haematoma or a cystic cavity in the pituitary gland which must be perfectly described together with the integrity of the bone structures due to the risk of lysis. Magnetic resonance imaging is an essential technique which can be used to describe the volume and suprasellar extension of the tumour, its texture, possible compression of adjacent structures and determine the age of the haemorrhage. This imaging technique can also isolate rare optochiasmatic apoplexia requiring intracranial evacuation. Emergency surgery is mandatory for most all authors. Rhinal-septal decompression is usually used, but the intracranial route may be preferred for very large suprasellar tumours. Medical treatment alone may be successful for small prolactin adenomas. Outcome depends on the time lapse to decompression. Optic nerve recovery is usually possible if the delay is less than 7 days. Cranial nerve recovery is less dependent on the time interval. In all cases hormone substitution is required.