Pituitary adenoma apoplexy presenting with bilateral third nerve palsy and bilateral proptosis: A case report

Abstract

Objective: To report a case of pituitary adenoma apoplexy presenting with bilateral proptosis and bilateral third nerve palsy that developed after cardiovascular surgery. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 45-year-old man developed bilateral proptosis and bilateral third nerve palsy after a coronary artery bypass grafting operation. A pituitary macroadenoma with extension into the sphenoid sinus and cavernous sinus with bilateral involvement was resected on computed tomography scan by microscopic transsphenoidal procedure. Third nerve palsy improved partially on the first postoperative day and completely improved in the fourth month after the operation. Conclusion: This is a rare case of pituitary adenoma apoplexy that presented with bilateral third cranial nerve palsy. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG.