The clinical features and management of pituitary apoplexy

Abstract

The clinical features and management of three patients presenting with pituitary apoplexy are described. They illustrate the difficulty of differentiating pituitary apoplexy from other acute neurological conditions. One of the patients is the first reported case of pituitary apoplexy occurring in a histologically proved craniopharyngioma. Two of the cases reported were treated conservatively and recovered without serious sequelae. It is suggested that it is not always necessary to consider pituitary apoplexy as a neurosurgical emergency. The relationship between radiotherapy and pituitary apoplexy is discussed.