"It is important to recognise that the term should only be used when the clinical syndrome is present. Presence of haemorrhage or necrosis with blood products in an asymptomatic individual or in someone who does not have an acute clinical deterioration should not be reported as pituitary apoplexy 12."
"MRI typically demonstrates a pituitary region mass with heterogeneous and variable signal intensity due to the the presence of infarction and/or tumour infarction 12. Fluid-fluid levels may be visible 12."
"Rathke cleft cyst"
Expected headings
"Follow-up"
"Pituitary apoplexy is an acute clinical condition usually caused by haemorrhagic infarction of a pituitary adenoma. Presentation is variable; it typically comprises headache, visual deficits, ophthalmoplegia, and altered mental status."
"The demographics generally follow that of pituitary macroadenomas, but it is uncommon within that group, only occurring in 1.6 to 2.8% of patients with a macroadenoma, and is the first manifestation of the adenoma in over half of patients 12. There is a moderate male predilection (M:F 2:1) 12."
"Also, the patient may experience a decreased level of consciousness, hypopituitarism, Addisonian crisis 3, meningeal irritation secondary to haemorrhage, and rarely, ischaemic stroke secondary to vasospasm 11,12."
"General features of pituitary apoplexy include enlargement of the pituitary gland, with or without bleeding. Macroscopic haemorrhage is common and occurs in about 85%. It shows peripheral enhancement around a non-enhancing infarcted centre. Surrounding oedema may be seen in the optic tracts and chiasm."