To describe a rare presentation of pituitary apoplexy as unilateral abducens nerve palsy demonstrating the various presentations of the condition.
Methods
Case report.
Results
A 48-year-old man presented with isolated right abducens nerve palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large pituitary macroadenoma with evidence of recent bleed into the right cavernous sinus and surrounding the right internal carotid artery.
Conclusions
Pituitary apoplexy may present subtly with an isolated sixth nerve palsy but the condition is critical and high index of suspicion needs to be governed.
NawarR.N., Abdel MannanD., SelmanW.R., ArafaB.M.Pituitary tumor apoplexy: a review. J Intens Care Med2008; 23: 75–90.
2.
SibalL., BallS.G., ConnollyV.. Pituitary apoplexy: a review of clinical presentation, management and outcome in 45 cases. Pituitary2004; 7: 157–63.
3.
KumarV., AbbasA.K., FaustoN.The endocrine system. In: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 7th ed.Elsevier; 2005: 1155.
4.
WarwarR.E., BhullarS.S., PelstringR.J., FadellR.J.Sudden death from pituitary apoplexy in a patient presenting with an isolated sixth cranial nerve palsy. J Neuro-Ophthalmol2006; 26: 95–7.
5.
TaniokaD., AbeT., KuniiN.. A case of a hemorrhagic non-functioning pituitary adenoma presenting with abducens nerve palsy. No Shinkei Geka2005; 33: 473–9.
