[Pituitary apoplexy with an unruptured carotid-ophthalmic aneurysm]

The association of pituitary adenoma and adjacent cerebral aneurysm is not uncommon and acute hemorrhage into a pituitary adenoma is also a well recognized condition. However, the simultaneous occurrence of pituitary apoplexy with intracranial aneurysm is very rare. Such a case demonstrates the diagnostic difficulty in distinguishing between pituitary apoplexy and rupture of an aneurysm. We reported a patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage in whom a hemorrhage into the pituitary adenoma and a carotid-ophthalmic aneurysm was proven, and discussed the differential diagnosis and treatment. A 41-year-old man, who developed sudden severe headache with nausea and vomiting, was admitted to our hospital. Examination disclosed a mildly stuporous man with bilateral defects of upper lateral visual fields and lumbar puncture revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage. Plain radiographs of the skull showed an enlarged and eroded sella turcica. Carotid angiography revealed a left carotid-ophthalmic aneurysm. A plain CT scan demonstrated an acute suprasellar hematoma. A transsphenoidal operation was performed and postoperative course was uneventful.