Trans-sphenoidal surgical approach in pituitary apoplexy

Two cases are described presenting a clinical picture of sudden headache, fever and vomiting, accompanied by unilateral ophthalmoplegia and acute deterioration of visual acuity. In one this amounted to monocular blindness with a field defect in the other, indicative of chiasmal compression. Necrotic pituitary adenoma material was removed by the transphenoidal route in both cases. Recovery of eye movements was obtained and considerable improvement of visual acuity, which in one patient, was restored completely.