What is the name of the acute pituitary emergency caused by hemorrhage or infarction within a pituitary tumor?

• A. Pituitary apoplexy.
• B. Sheehan syndrome.
• C. Pituitary abscess.
• D. Panhypopituitarism.

Answer: (A)

Pituitary apoplexy is an acute emergency caused by hemorrhage or infarction within a pituitary tumor. It presents suddenly with severe headache and may include meningismus, visual changes or cranial nerve palsies from compression of the optic apparatus or cavernous sinus. Hormonal collapse can also occur, especially an abrupt loss of ACTH leading to adrenal crisis, so starting high‑dose intravenous steroids is critical even before imaging. MRI typically shows hemorrhage or infarction within a pituitary lesion.

This condition is distinct from Sheehan syndrome, which is postpartum pituitary necrosis due to obstetric hemorrhage leading to chronic hypopituitarism; a pituitary abscess is a rare infection; and panhypopituitarism describes widespread pituitary hormone deficiencies not specifically tied to an acute hemorrhagic infarct within a tumor.