• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.246-249
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• 2008

Cause of pituitary apoplexy has been known as hemorrhage, hemorrhagic infarction or infarction of pituitary adenoma or adjacent tissues of pituitary gland. However, pituitary apoplexy caused by pure infarction of pituitary adenoma has been rarely reported. Here, we present the two cases pituitary apoplexies caused by pituitary adenoma infarction that were confirmed by transsphenoidal approach (TSA) and pathologic reports. Pathologic report of first case revealed total tumor infarction of a nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenoma and second case partial tumor infarction of ACTH secreting pituitary macroadenoma. Patients with pituitary apoplexy which was caused by pituitary adenoma infarction unrelated to hemorrhage or hemorrhagic infarction showed good response to TSA treatment. Further study on the predisposing factors of pituitary apoplexy and the mechanism of infarction in pituitary adenoma is necessary.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.724-728
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• 2001

Objectives : Pituitary apoplexy is a well-described clinical syndrome resulting from pituitary hemorrhage, hemorrhagic infarction, or infarction, almost invariably occurring in the presence of an adenoma. We analyzed pituitary apoplexy with an emphasis on clinical presentation, pathology and predisposing factors. Methods : We reviewed 35 histologically proven pituitary adenomas, operated from January 1995 to August 1999, to select 8 cases which showed clinical or operative findings compatible with pituitary apoplexy. These patients were analyzed in terms of symptom and sign, hormonal status, and predisposing factors, pathologic findings. Results : Among 35 surgically treated tumors of the pituitary gland, 8 cases(23%) were diagnosed as pituitary apoplexy. The pathologic findings revealed hemorrhage(7 cases) and infarction(1 case) of pituitary adenomas. One case had predisposing factor of appendectomy. The most common presenting symptom and sign were sudden severe headache and visual disturbance. Conclusion : We treated pituitary apoplexy surgically and obtained good outcomes. Pituitary apoplexy due to massive infarction of the pituitary gland is very rare condition but surgical treatment by trans-spheniodal surgery showed a good result.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.118-121
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• 2009

Pituitary apoplexy is a clinical syndrome caused by an acute ischemic or hemorrhagic vascular accident involving a pituitary adenoma or an adjacent pituitary gland. Pituitary apoplexy may be associated with a variety of neurological and endocrinological signs and symptoms. However, isolated third cranial nerve palsy with ptosis as the presenting sign of pituitary apoplexy is very rare. We describe two cases of pituitary apoplexy presenting as sudden-onset unilateral ptosis and diplopia. In one case, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a mass in the pituitary fossa with signs of hemorrhage, upward displacement of the optic chiasm, erosion of the sellar floor and invasion of the right cavernous sinus. In the other case, MRI showed a large area of insufficient enhancement in the anterior pituitary consistent with pituitary infarction or Sheehan's syndrome. We performed neurosurgical decompression via a transsphenoidal approach. Both patients showed an uneventful recovery. Both cases of isolated third cranial nerve palsy with ptosis completely resolved during the early postoperative period. We suggest that pituitary apoplexy should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with isolated third cranial nerve palsy with ptosis and that prompt neurosurgical decompression should be considered for the preservation of third cranial nerve function.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.289-291
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• 2015

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare but potentially life-threatening clinical syndrome caused by the sudden enlargement of a pituitary adenoma secondary to hemorrhage or infarction. Pituitary apoplexy after cardiac surgery is a very rare perioperative complication. Factors associated with open heart surgery that may lead to pituitary apoplexy include hemodynamic instability during cardiopulmonary bypass and systemic heparinization. We report a case of pituitary apoplexy after mitral valvuloplasty with cardiopulmonary bypass. After early pituitary tumor resection and hormonal replacement therapy, the patient made a full recovery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.281-287
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• 2011

Objective : Pituitary apoplexy is life-threatening clinical syndrome caused by the rapid enlargement of a pituitary tumor due to hemorrhage and/or infarction. The pathogenesis of pituitary apoplexy is not completely understood. We analyzed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of pituitary tumors and subsequently correlated the radiological findings with the clinical presentation. Additionally, immunohistochemistry was also performed to determine whether certain biomarkers are related to radiological apoplexy. Methods : Thirty-four cases of pituitary adenoma were enrolled for retrospective analysis. In this study, the radiological apoplexy was defined as cases where hemorrhage, infarction or cysts were identified on MRI. Acute clinical presentation was defined as the presence of any of the following symptoms: severe sudden onset headache, decreased visual acuity and/or visual field deficit, and acute mental status changes. Angiogenesis was quantified by immunohistochemical expression of fetal liver kinase 1 (Flk-1), neuropilin (NRP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, while microvascular density (MVD) was assessed using Endoglin and CD31. Results : Clinically, fourteen patients presented with acute symptoms and 20 for mild or none clinical symptoms. Radiologically, fifteen patients met the criteria for radiological apoplexy. Of the fifteen patients with radiologic apoplexy, 9 patients presented acute symptoms whereas of the 19 patient without radiologic apoplexy, 5 patients presented acute symptoms. Of the five biomarkers tracked, only VEGF was found to be positively correlated with both radiological and nonradiological apoplexy. Conclusion : While pituitary apoplexy is currently defined in cases where clinical symptoms can be histologically confirmed, we contend that cases of radiologically identified pituitary hemorrhages that present with mild or no symptoms should be designated subacute or subclinical apoplexy. VEGF is believed to have a positive correlation with pituitary hemorrhage. Considering the high rate of symptomatic or asymptomatic pituitary tumor hemorrhage, additional studies are needed to detect predictors of the pituitary hemorrhage.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.63-65
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• 2001

Pituitary apoplexy resulting from hemorrhage or necrosis of a pituitary tumor with subsequent compression of the optic nerves and cavernous sinuses is a life-threatening condition. The diagnosis is made clinically by the sudden onset of headache, meningismus, visual impairment, and ocular abnormalities, Modern surgical techniques seem to have reduced morbidity. Nevertheless, it is evident that not every patient requires surgical decompression after pituitary apoplexy because of spontaneous resolution after hormonal replacement therapy. We report an 84-year-old man who had pituitary apoplexy presenting with headache, ptosis and eyelid swelling. A good result has been achieved with immediate replacement of steroid.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2007

Objective : Pituitary apoplexy, resulting from an acute infarction or hemorrhage mainly in pituitary adenomas, is a rare yet major clinical event with neurological, ophthalmological and hormonal emergent consequences. The authors review our surgical experience with a series of 16 cases of pituitary apoplexy. Methods : The cases of pituitary apoplexy, operated via trans-sphenoidal approach in our hospital between 1998-2005, were retrospectively analyzed in terms of their clinicoradiological features, pathological findings and surgical outcomes. Results : The mean age of patients (9 male and 7 female) was 47.1 years. The average time of presentation after onset of symptom was 8.9 days. Pituitary apoplexy occurred as an initial manifestation of pituitary adenoma in all patients. Headache was the most common presenting symptom (94%). Visual disturbance was found in 56% of patients. Thirty-one percent of the patients had hypopituitarism. On magnetic resonance imaging, this entire catastrophic event accompanied with macroadenoma in a mean size of 22.5 mm. Only four patients needed postoperative hormone replacement therapy. Three of them showed preoperative hypopituitary function, and one patient in normal pituitary function. There was no specific complication in any of these patients. Conclusion : Early trans-sphenoidal decompression with high-dose corticosteroid replacement showed good outcomes of pituitary apoplexy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.246-247
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• 2007

The most common cause of isolated oculomotor nerve palsy is ischemia of the peripheral nerve caused by a disease, such as diabetes mellitus. Another common cause of isolated oculomotor nerve palsy is compression by an intracranial aneurysm, usually an posterior communicating artery aneurysm. However, it is extremely rare in the pituitary tumor. We report an unusual case of pituitary adenoma presenting with isolated oculomotor nerve palsy in the setting of pituitary apoplexy. We suggest that pituitary apoplexy should be included in the differential diagnosis of a patient with isolated oculomotor nerve palsy and early surgery should be considered for preservation of oculomotor nerve function.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.450-455
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• 2005

Objective : Pituitary apoplexy is a rare clinical syndrome caused by pituitary hemorrhage, hemorrhagic infarction, or ischemic infarction within a pituitary tumor or surrounding structure. We analyzed surgical outcomes of pituitary apoplexy. Methods : From 1995 to 2004, we reviewed our experience of 29 cases with pituitary apoplexy. In all patients, pre- and postoperative clinical presentation were checked and endocrine study were performed. Results : The most frequent symptoms were visual disturbance [24 cases, 82.8%] and headache [22 cases, 75.9%]. After surgery, headache improved in 86.4%, 88.9% among 18cases who had preoperative reduction in visual acuity and 75.0% among 12 cases who had preoperative reduction in visual field improved. In endocrine study, long-term steroid and thyroid hormone replacement therapy was necessary in 42.9% of 14 cases presenting preoperative hypopituitarism. Postoperative transient hypopituitarism developed in 5 cases [33.3%] and they all recovered in follow up study. Postoperative endocrinological recovery were in 77.9% of 9 cases with preoperative prolactinoma, 1 case in 2 cases with acromegaly and one case with Cushing disease. Postoperative complications were diabetes inspidus[DI] in 1 case [3.4%]. cerebrospinal fluid[CSF] leakage in 2 cases [6.8%] and death in 1 case [3.4%] due to sepsis, Conclusion : We report good results through surgery of pituitary apoplexy in a clinical and endocrine outcomes. The surgery should be performed as soon as possible to be a suitable method for treating pituitary apoplexy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.404-406
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• 2012

The occurrence of symptomatic pituitary hemorrhage into a Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC) is extremely rare. The author reports an interesting case of intra- and suprasellar RCC presented with features of pituitary apoplexy. This 62-year-old woman suffered acute headache, mental confusion, and partial hypopituitarism. The characteristics of the magnetic resonance imaging seemed most compatible with a hemorrhagic pituitary adenoma. Transsphenoidal drainage of the cyst contents confirmed the diagnosis of hemorrhagic RCC and resolved the symptoms. All published data on this rare clinical entity are extracted and reviewed.