On the origins of pituitary apoplexy

Abstract

This paper sketches the early history of pituitary apoplexy, a disorder later fully described in 1950 by Brougham, Heusner and Adams. Haemorrhage or necrosis in an adenoma causes a characteristic sudden drowsiness, stupor or coma, headache and stiff neck, ocular palsy, and impaired acuity with visual field loss owing to optic nerve or chiasmal compression. The associated endocrinopathy and management are described.