Agnieszka Grzywotz1, Bernadette Kleist2, Lars C Möller3, Volkmar H Hans4, Sophia Göricke5, Ulrich Sure6, Oliver Müller7, Ilonka Kreitschmann-Andermahr8. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: Agnieszka.Grzywotz@uk-essen.de. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: Bernadette.Kleist@uk-essen.de. 3. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Division of Laboratory Research, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: Lars.Moeller@uk-essen.de. 4. Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: neuropathologie@gmx.de. 5. Institute of Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: Sophia.Goericke@uk-essen.de. 6. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: Ulrich.Sure@uk-essen.de. 7. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: Oliver.Mueller@uk-essen.de. 8. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: Ilonka.Kreitschmann@uk-essen.de.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Thunderclap headache and visual disturbances are typical clinical features of pituitary apoplexy (PA). Because of the acute symptomatology, many patients are referred to a neurosurgical department without prior endocrinological assessment. It is the aim of the present study to analyze initial presenting symptoms, outcome and associated endocrine disturbances in a cohort of patients with pituitary apoplexy primarily seen by neurosurgeons. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective single-center study in a neurosurgical department. Patients' records were reviewed for clinical, neuropathological and endocrinological findings. The diagnosis of PA was based on clinical, imaging and histological findings. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were studied. They were referred most often by neurologists (n=16), and family physicians (n=12). Only 2 patients received an endocrinological work-up prior to admission. The most frequently documented presenting symptoms were headache (n=54), visual field defects (n=13), reduction of visual acuity (n=17) and/or diplopia (n=19). An endocrinological history had rarely been taken and hormone blood tests were oftentimes incomplete or not ordered. At 3-month follow-up 18/44 patients had complete anterior hypopituitarism. At 12 months, 21/60 patients were lost to endocrinological follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The classic neurological symptoms of PA were well documented in our patient cohort, whereas endocrinological symptoms, especially those indicative of pituitary dysfunction were underreported. Neurologists and neurosurgeons need to be aware of the endocrinological sequelae of pituitary apoplexy in order to avoid potentially lethal complications. Patients should be counselled to adhere to long-term endocrinological and neurosurgical follow-up.
OBJECTIVE: Thunderclap headache and visual disturbances are typical clinical features of pituitary apoplexy (PA). Because of the acute symptomatology, many patients are referred to a neurosurgical department without prior endocrinological assessment. It is the aim of the present study to analyze initial presenting symptoms, outcome and associated endocrine disturbances in a cohort of patients with pituitary apoplexy primarily seen by neurosurgeons. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective single-center study in a neurosurgical department. Patients' records were reviewed for clinical, neuropathological and endocrinological findings. The diagnosis of PA was based on clinical, imaging and histological findings. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were studied. They were referred most often by neurologists (n=16), and family physicians (n=12). Only 2 patients received an endocrinological work-up prior to admission. The most frequently documented presenting symptoms were headache (n=54), visual field defects (n=13), reduction of visual acuity (n=17) and/or diplopia (n=19). An endocrinological history had rarely been taken and hormone blood tests were oftentimes incomplete or not ordered. At 3-month follow-up 18/44 patients had complete anterior hypopituitarism. At 12 months, 21/60 patients were lost to endocrinological follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The classic neurological symptoms of PA were well documented in our patient cohort, whereas endocrinological symptoms, especially those indicative of pituitary dysfunction were underreported. Neurologists and neurosurgeons need to be aware of the endocrinological sequelae of pituitary apoplexy in order to avoid potentially lethal complications. Patients should be counselled to adhere to long-term endocrinological and neurosurgical follow-up.
Authors: Patrick D Kelly; Shanik J Fernando; Jordan A Malenke; Rakesh K Chandra; Justin H Turner; Lola B Chambless Journal: J Neurol Surg B Skull Base Date: 2020-01-24