Atypical Presentation of Panhypopituitarism

Abstract

Hypopituitarism is a rare disorder. Hypopituitarism can present as a deficiency of individual anterior pituitary hormones (e.g., adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, growth hormone) or posterior pituitary hormones (e.g., oxytocin, vasopressin) or as the deficiency of all these pituitary hormones, also known as panhypopituitarism. Here, we discuss a 59-year-old man who presented with two episodes of unwitnessed syncope after an episode of vomiting. On admission, the patient was hypotensive to 88/54 mmHg, afebrile, and with a leukocyte count of 21.43 K/µL (reference range: 3.80 to 10.50 K/µL). CT scan of the head revealed a hyperdensity in the left intracranial internal carotid artery just proximal to the bifurcation, suggesting an artifact or presence of an embolus. Additional findings included a sellar mass with calcifications and suprasellar extensions. The patient was admitted for further workup of syncope. Other differential diagnoses included sepsis, stroke, cardiac arrhythmias, and pulmonary embolism. Sepsis, stroke, and cardiac workup were negative for significant findings. The patient remained persistently hypotensive despite aggressive intravenous hydration, raising suspicion for an underlying endocrine disorder. MRI of the brain was negative for stroke but again was significant for a sellar mass. Additional workup showed a deficiency of all the anterior pituitary hormones likely secondary to mass effect. The patient was diagnosed with panhypopituitarism due to pituitary macroadenoma.