[Pituitary apoplexy with localized hematoma in the suprasellar region]

The authors report a case of a patient with a pituitary tumor, in which pituitary apoplexy occurred only in the suprasellar part of the tumor. A 26-year-old woman suffered from abrupt worsening of vision and headache. A CT scan showed a dumb-bell-shaped tumor extending to the suprasellar region, in which an irregularly shaped low density area suggesting a liquidized hematoma was seen. The rapid worsening of her symptoms was highly indicative of pituitary apoplexy. The first operation was performed through the transsphenoidal route. There was no evidence of intratumoral hematoma in the intrasellar tumor, which could be removed successfully. However, the suprasellar mass could not be reached because of the hardness of the diaphragma sellae and the presence of a normal pituitary gland. MRI and CT cisternography after this first operation showed a narrow opening of the diaphragma sellae. The second operation using right frontotemporal craniotomy disclosed a suprasellar mass, which consisted of an old hematoma and a necrotic tumor. The tumor was sub-totally removed. The patient's visual acuity improved after the second operation. Although transsphenoidal surgery is the treatment of choice in patients with pituitary apoplexy, the selection of the surgical route should be made only after careful neuroradiological evaluation with regard to the extrasellar extension of the tumor.