Pituitary apoplexy overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Akshun Kalia M.B.B.S.[2]
Overview
Pituitary apoplexy is caused by hemorrhage into the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a small gland joined to the hypothalamus at the base of brain. The pituitary produces many of the hormones that control essential body processes. Pituitary apoplexy is most commonly associated with pituitary adenoma. The most common symptom of pituitary apoplexy is severe headache with nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms depends upon the amount of hemorrhage and necrosis in the pituitary gland. Hemorrhage into pituitary gland may compress the surrounding structures and present with ophthlamoplegia, cranial nerve palsies and signs of increased intracranial pressure. The initial diagnostic test is CT scan without contrast which will show the hemorrhage as hyperintense lesion. In case of inconclusive CT, an MRI may be done to better visualize the lesion. Laboratory tests are done to identify specific hormone and electrolyte disturbances. The initial management of pituitary apoplexy includes rapid hemodynamic stabilization of the patient with replacement of hormones. Depending upon the patient's condition after initial management neurological decompression may be done.[1][2]
Historical Perspective
Pituitary apoplexy was first discovered by Pearce Bailey in the year 1898. In the year 1905, Leopold Bleibtreu recorded the postmortem examination of a 21-year-old acromegalic patient, in whom he discovered that the pituitary gland had been replaced by an old hemorrhage. The term pituitary apoplexy was coined by Brougham, Heusner and Adams in the year 1950.[3]
Pathophysiology
Pituitary apoplexy is an acute clinical syndrome caused by hemorrhage and necrosis in the pituitary gland. Most commonly pituitary apoplexy is associated with pituitary adenoma. The pituitary adenoma has fenestrated endothelium surrounded by a variable number of smooth muscle cells, which are not found in normal pituitary gland. The pituitary adenoma predisposes to an increased risk of bleeding within the pituitary gland.
Differentiating Pituitary apoplexy From Other Diseases
Pituitary apoplexy must be differentiated from other diseases that cause severe headache such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, meningitis, intracranial mass, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, intracranial venous thrombosis, migraine, head injury, lymphocytic hypophysitis and radiation injury.[4][5][6]
Epidemiology and Demographics
The worldwide prevalence of pituitary apoplexy is 6.2 per 100,000 persons. The incidence of pituitary apoplexy is 0.7 per 100,000 persons.[7]
Risk Factors
Common risk factors in the development of pituitary apoplexy include bleeding disorders, diabetes, use of a breathing machine, radiation to the pituitary gland, angiography, head injury, surgery, pituitary stimulation and pregnancy induced lactotroph hyperplasia.
Screening
There are no screening guidelines for pituitary apoplexy.
Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis
If left untreated, pituitary apoplexy is an acute life threatening condition. Pituitary apoplexy may lead to sudden decline in pituitary hormone production. The most life threatening endocrinopathy is acute adrenal crisis. Complications of pituitary apoplexy include vision loss, optic neuritis, diplopia, ptosis, increased intracranial pressure, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism and growth hormone deficiency. The prognosis of pituitary apoplexy depends upon presentation and initiation of therapy. Emergent application of medical and surgical treatment is associated with greater improvement in visual field defects, visual acuity, and diplopia. The outlook is good for people who are diagnosed early and treated. Patients require hormone(s) replacement therapy for life.
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Pituitary apoplexy usually has a short period of symptoms (acute), but it can be life-threatening. Symptoms usually include severe headache, paralysis of eye muscles, visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting.
Physical Examination
Patients with pituitary apoplexy appear ill and usually look tired. Physical examination of patients with pituitary apoplexy is usually remarkable for orthostatic hypotension, visual acuity and visual field defects, cranial nerve palsies, horner syndrome, meningeal irritation, altered level of consciousness, severe mental status change and other signs of hypopituitarism.
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of pituitary apoplexy include endocrinopathies from hypofunction of the pituitary gland. Blood tests will be done to check levels of ACTH, cholesterol, cortisol ,growth hormone, LH, prolactin and somatomedin C (IGF-1).
X-ray
X-ray is an inexpensive method for evaluating pituitary apoplexy. However, x-ray is neither the best initial test nor the most accurate test in evaluating pituitary apoplexy.
CT
CT scan without contrast is the initial test of choice in emergency department patients who presents with sudden-onset severe headache, visual loss or ophthalmoplegia suggestive of pituitary apoplexy. CT scan can also help to differentiate; whether subarachnoid hemorrhage is arising from pituitary hemorrhage or an aneurysm.
MRI
MRI is done if the CT scan is suspicious for pituitary apoplexy. MRI is more sensitive than CT scan. MRI is more accurate in distinguishing the soft tissues of the pituitary from the surrounding bony structures. MRI is also superior to CT scan for detecting ischemia and infarction in brain tissue.
Treatment
The optimal therapy for pituitary apoplexy depends upon presentation of patient. Emphasis is on early hemodynamic stabilization of the patient, with evaluation for signs of pituitary hormones deficiency. Life threatening hypopituitarism must be treated with replacement of hormones.
Surgery
Neurological decompression is done once the patient is hemodynamically stable. Surgery relieves pressure on the pituitary and improves visual field defects and ocular palsy. Early decompression has been associated with better visual and endocrine outcome.
References
- ↑ Semple, Patrick L.; Webb, Michael K.; de Villiers, Jacques C.; Laws, Edward R. (2005). "Pituitary Apoplexy". Neurosurgery. 56 (1): 65–73. doi:10.1227/01.NEU.0000144840.55247.38. ISSN 0148-396X.
- ↑ Zayour DH, Selman WR, Arafah BM (2004). "Extreme elevation of intrasellar pressure in patients with pituitary tumor apoplexy: relation to pituitary function". J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 89 (11): 5649–54. doi:10.1210/jc.2004-0884. PMID 15531524.
- ↑ BROUGHAM M, HEUSNER AP, ADAMS RD (1950). "Acute degenerative changes in adenomas of the pituitary body--with special reference to pituitary apoplexy". J. Neurosurg. 7 (5): 421–39. doi:10.3171/jns.1950.7.5.0421. PMID 14774761.
- ↑ Rapalino O, Mullins ME (2017). "Intracranial Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases Presenting as Neurosurgical Pathologies". Neurosurgery. doi:10.1093/neuros/nyx201. PMID 28575459.
- ↑ Konakondla S, Schirmer CM, Li F, Geng X, Ding Y (2017). "New Developments in the Pathophysiology, Workup, and Diagnosis of Dural Venous Sinus Thrombosis (DVST) and a Systematic Review of Endovascular Treatments". Aging Dis. 8 (2): 136–148. doi:10.14336/AD.2016.0915. PMC 5362174. PMID 28400981.
- ↑ Yadav P, Bradley AL, Smith JH (2017). "Recognition of Chronic Migraine by Medicine Trainees: A Cross-Sectional Survey". Headache. doi:10.1111/head.13133. PMID 28653369.
- ↑ Fernandez A, Karavitaki N, Wass JA (2010). "Prevalence of pituitary adenomas: a community-based, cross-sectional study in Banbury (Oxfordshire, UK)". Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 72 (3): 377–82. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.2009.03667.x. PMID 19650784.