CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2023; 45(05): 273-280
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770128
Case Report

Pituitary Apoplexy in Pregnancy: What do We Know?

Apoplexia hipofisária na gravidez: o que sabemos?
1   Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, Loures, Portugal
,
1   Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, Loures, Portugal
,
1   Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, Loures, Portugal
,
1   Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, Loures, Portugal
,
1   Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, Loures, Portugal
› Author Affiliations
 

Abstract

Pituitary apoplexy refers to a rare clinical syndrome consisting of signs and symptoms that occur due to rapid expansion of the contents of the sella turcica. It can occur spontaneously or associated with pituitary tumors. It can have a broad clinical spectrum, but usually presents with severe headache, visual impairment and hypopituitarism. Sudden onset of symptoms associated to imagiologic confirmation makes the diagnosis. Surgical treatment is advised when there is important compression of the optic tract. We present a case report and a review of the literature on pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy. The cases were reviewed to obtain information on maternal characteristics, clinical presentation, diagnostic studies, therapeutic modalities and maternal and fetal outcomes. Our review found 36 cases of pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy. Most of the cases occurred in the second trimester of pregnancy and headache was the most frequent symptom at presentation. Surgical therapy was required in more than half of the patients. In what respect maternal and fetal outcomes, there were 3 cases of preterm delivery and one case of maternal death. Our clinical case and literature review reinforces the importance of an early diagnosis to avoid potential adverse consequences.


#

Introduction

Pituitary apoplexy refers to a rare clinical syndrome consisting of signs and symptoms that occur due to rapid expansion of the contents of the sella turcica, due to hemorrhagic or ischemic events. It can occur spontaneously or associated with pituitary tumors. In many cases, pituitary apoplexy is the initial presentation of an adenoma. The etiology is multifactorial, but several precipitating factors have been described, including pregnancy.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

The clinical spectrum goes from asymptomatic or mild symptoms to a life-threatening situation, to both the mother and the fetus, particularly when associated with corticotropin deficiency and adrenal insufficiency. The diagnosis is made through the identification of the clinical syndrome associated with sella turcica imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive method to confirm the diagnosis by revealing a pituitary tumor with hemorrhagic and/or necrotic components.[4] [6]

The treatment of choice is conservative, but surgery might be required when there are important visual disturbances due to optic tract compression.[4] [7]

These study aims to report a case of a woman presenting with pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy who was treated with conservative management and also to present a review of the literature on this subject.


#

Methods

We report a case of pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy and present a review of the published cases in the literature on this subject. To identify these cases, we performed a research using PubMed/MEDLINE, using the MeSH terms ‘‘pituitary apoplexy” and ‘‘pregnancy.” We included all studies published until January 2021. Our search was limited to studies published as full-text articles in English or in Portuguese. All the articles without pituitary imaging were excluded. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient described in our case report. The selected cases were reviewed to obtain information on maternal characteristics, clinical presentation, diagnostic studies, therapeutic modalities and maternal and fetal outcomes. The collected data was analyzed and summarized in a table along with the author's name and respective reference ([Chart 1]).[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37]

Chart 1

Summary of available literature on pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy

 Author [reference]

  Age

 (years)

 Clinical presentation

 GA

  Pituitary imaging (MRI or CT)

  Treatment (GA)

 Evolution

 Delivery

 Prior lesion: Prolactinoma

 Tandon et al.[37]

 27

 Headache, Visual defects

 36WG

 MRI: suprasellar, hemorrhagic mass with optic chiasm compression

 Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal resection (36WG)

 Resolution

C-section at term

  Castro et al.[26]

 -Case 2

 32

 Headache, nausea vomiting

 28WG

 MRI: intrapituitary hemorrhage

 Steroids

 Improvement

C-section at term

 Prior lesion: Macroprolactinoma

 Freeman et al.[8]

 22

 Headaches, diaphoresis, Visual defects, DI

 32WG

 MRI: pituitary hemorrhage, with optic chiasm compression and without neurohypophysis visualization

 BCP stopped when pregnancy was diagnosed Transsphenoidal evacuation

 Resolution

Delivery at term

 Parihar et al.[34]

 22

 Headache, vomiting, vision loss

 20WG

 Pituitary apoplexy and compression over optic nerve and chiasm

 BCP stopped when pregnancy was diagnosed

 Transsphenoidal decompression, removal of hematoma

 Resolution

Delivery at term

  Grand'Maison S et al.[15]

 -Case 2

 30

 Headache

 20WG

 MRI: pituitary mass with acute bleeding

 Continued CBG (initiated before pregnancy)

 Resolution

 Vaginal delivery at term

  Jemel M et al.[20]

 -Case 2

 35

 Severe headache, nausea, vomiting deterioration of the visual field

 22WG

 MRI: a pituitary mass of compatible with a pituitary adenoma in apoplexy

 CBG initiated before pregnancy Microsurgical transsphenoidal

Delivery at term

 Oguz et al.[31]

 26

 Headache, nausea, visual defects, left

 temporal deficit

 22WG

 MRI: macroadenoma with hemorrhage and optic chiasm compression

 CBG

 Transsphenoidal surgery

 Improvement

C-section at term

 Witek et al.[38]

 25

 Headaches, dizziness, Visual defects

 14WG

 MRI: tumor enlargement with optic chiasm displacement and focal hemorrhage

 BCP stopped when pregnancy was diagnosed

 Restarted BCP

 Transsphenoidal adenomectomy (20WG)

 Improvement

C-section at term

 Gondim et al.[13]

 29

 Headache, visual defects

 30WG

 MRI: Macroadenoma with inside hemorrhage

 Continued BCP (initiated before pregnancy)

 Mini-invasive pituitary surgery (32WG)

Delivery at term

 Janssen et al.[19]

 27

 Headache, visual defects

 10WG

 MRI: tumor growth, suprasellar extension and optic chiasm compression. Liquefaction within the tumor, indicating apoplexy

 BCP stopped when pregnancy was diagnosed

 Restarted BCP

 Resolution

 Vaginal delivery at term

 Hayes et al.[17]

 41

 Visual defects

 18WG

 MRI: pituitary hemorrhage with a significant

 increase in the size of the tumor

 CBG stopped when pregnancy was diagnosed

 Stereotactic endoscopic transsphenoidal excision (2nd trimester)

 Vaginal delivery at term

 Couture et al.[6]

 37

 Headache, Nausea, Visual defects

 16WG

 MRI: sellar mass with suprasellar extension and contact with the optic chiasm, compatible with hemorrhage in a pituitary

 tumor

 BCP switched to CBG when pregnancy was diagnosed

 Resolution

C-section at term

 Prior lesion: GHoma

 Lunardi et al.[24]

 21

 Headache, Visual defects

 24WG

 CT: intrasellar space-occupying lesion with a marked suprasellar extension.

Transsphenoidal approach

 Resolution; DI development

 Normal delivery at term

 Atmaca et al.[3]

 33

 Headache, Visual defects

 33WG

 MRI: Pituitary apoplexy

 Transsphenoidal resection during labor

C-section at term

 Prior lesion: ACTHoma (Nelson syndrome)

 Gheorghiu et

 al.[12]

 33

 Headache, nausea

 22WG

 MRI: intrasellar mass suggesting pituitary

 apoplexy

 DI development

Delivery at term

 Prior lesion: Adenoma

 Ohtsubo et al.[32]

 29

 Headache, vomiting,

 Visual defects

 24WG

 CT and MRI: pituitary adenoma with

 hematoma

 Transsphenoidal approach

 (32WG)

Delivery at term

 Prior lesion: Macroadenoma

 Iuliano et al.[18]

 28

 Headache, edema of the right optic disk

 29WG

 MRI: pituitary macroadenoma with hemorrhage and compression of the right optic nerve

 BCP

 Transnasal approach (29WG)

 Resolution

Delivery at term

 Unknown prior lesion

 Murao et al. [30]

 35

 Nausea, vomiting

 39WG

 MRI: pituitary apoplexy

 Kita et al.[21]

 26

 Visual defects

 26WG

 MRI: pituitary mass with a fluid level component displacing the optic chiasm

 Endonasal

 endoscopic surgery (27WG)

 Improvement; DI development

Delivery at term

 Krull et al.[2]

 28

 Headache, DI

 7WG

 MRI: pituitary apoplexy

 Piantanida et al.[35]

 27

 Headache, Visual defects

 35WG

 MRI: sellar mass with suprasellar extension, with optic chiasm compression, deviation of the pituitary stalk, and with recent bleeding

 Endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. (postpartum)

 Resolution

 C-section at 35WG

 Fujimaki et al.[9]

 23

 Headache, Visual defects

 24WG

 MRI: large mass occupying the pituitary fossa and suprasellar cistern

 Surgery was performed 1 month postpartum

 Improvement

 C-section at 34WG

 De Heide et al.[7]

 26

 Headache nausea, vomiting, Visual

 defects, DI

 23WG

 MRI: pituitary tumor with hemorrhage

 Improvement

Delivery at term

 Bamfo et al.[4]

 31

 Vomiting, Visual defects, Unilateral ptosis

 10WG

 Hemorrhage into a preexisting solid or cystic lesion, with extension into the left cavernous sinus and optic chiasm compression

C-section at term

 Lee et al.[23]

 26

 Headache, visual defects, low TSH and FSH and high T4, prolactin and somatomedin C

 24WG

 MRI: mass arising from the pituitary fossa and extending into the suprasellar cistern compressing the optic chiasm

 Transsphenoidal surgery

 Resolution

 Vaginal delivery at term

  Grand'Maison S et al.[15]

 -Case 1

 33

 Headache, Visual defects, dizziness, neck stiffness

 39WG

 MRI/CT: sellar central hemorrhagic infarction and pituitary hyperplasia in contact with the optic chiasm

 Labor induction at term

 Abraham RR et al.[1]

 32

 Visual Defects decreased right V1-V2

 facial

 23WG

 MRI: enlargement of the pituitary with hemorrhage and optic nerve compression

 Emergent endoscopic endonasal surgery (23WG)

  Jemel M et al.[20]

 -Case 1

 32

 Headache, Visual defects

 37WG

 MRI: sellar central hemorrhagic infarction and pituitary hyperplasia, compatible with sub- acute pituitary apoplexy

 None

 Labor induction at term

  Jemel M et al.[20]

 -Case 3

 30

 Headache, Visual defects

 24WG

 MRI: bleeding within a macroadenoma

 Endoscopic transsphenoidal ressection (24WG)

 Improvement

Delivery at term

  Castro et al.[26]

 -Case 1

 27

 Headache, Visual defects

 24WG

 MRI: pituitary hemorrhage, with optic tract compression

 Transsphenoidal partial excision of pituitary gland

 Resolution; DI development

C-section at term

 Mathur et al.[25]

 34

 Headache, neurological deficits, reversible vasoconstriction syndrome and stroke

 Puer- perium

 MRI: Pituitary apoplexy was diagnosed based on a pituitary hemorrhage

 Steroids

 Nimodipine plus lamotrigine for seizure prophylaxis

 Resolution

 Emergent c- section

 Okafor et al.[33]

 30

 Headache, vomiting. protrusion of the right eye

 24WG

 CT scan: pituitary tumor with pressure effects, occluding the anterior horn of the left lateral ventricle. The other ventricles were dilated

 BCP

 Hypertension with encephalopathy, cardiac arrest and death

 Emergent C- section at 34 + 5WG

 Chan et al.[5]

 28

 Headache, Visual defect, hypogonadism, low TSH and high serum

 prolactin

 38WG

 MRI: pituitary tumor, with hemorrhage and hypophysis and optic chiasm compression

 Steroids

 Transsphenoidal surgery 2 days after delivery

 Improvement

 Forceps at term

  Galvão et al.[10]

 - Case 1

 30

 Consciousness loss, Headache, Visual

 defects

 28WG

 MRI: macroprolactinoma, with sellar and suprasellar hemorrhage

 None

 Resolution

 C-section at term

  Galvão et al.[10]

 -Case 2

 25

 Headache, Visual defects

 MRI: pituitary apoplexy

 Transsphenoidal adenomectomy (2nd trimester)

 Development of Hypothyroidism and DI

 C-section at term

 Cokmez et al.[16]

 26

 Headache, vomiting, Visual defects

 24 WG

 MRI: macroadenoma and bleeding

 Steroids

 Tumor excision was performed

 with craniotomy

 Improvement

 C-section at term

Abbreviations: BCP, Bromocriptine; CBG, Cabergoline; CT, computed tomography; DI, Diabetes insipidus; GA, Gestational age; MRI, Magnetic resonance imaging; WG, weeks of gestation.



#

Case Report

A 36-year-old women, 30 weeks pregnant was admitted to the emergency service with severe holocranial headache, blurred vision, photophobia and vomiting for the last 4 days. In the day before she had been discharged from another hospital with the diagnosis of migraine. She had type 1 Diabetes Mellitus for 18 years, without known micro or macrovascular complications. She was on insulin (detemir and lispro), acetylsalicylic acid, folic acid, ferrous sulfate and potassium iodine. At admission, physical examination, blood pressure and neurologic examination were normal. Hemoglobin, platelets, renal and hepatic function were in the normal range and sFLT-1 /PLGF ratio was negative (<38), excluding pre-eclampsia as the cause of this clinical picture. Brain MRI was suggestive of pituitary apoplexy with compression and swelling of the optic tract: “Enlarged pituitary gland 12 mm in height, with heterogeneous sign. There is an evident suprasellar extension and shaping of the optic chiasm.” ([Fig. 1]) After neuro-ophthalmological examination, optic chiasm compression was excluded and surgery was postponed. Blood levels of ACTH, FT4, TSH and cortisol were unremarkable. She was started on intravenous hydrocortisone 100 mg every 8 hours, with progressive improvement of symptoms. At 35 weeks of gestation, an urgent c-section was performed because of a non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracing ([Fig. 1]) associated with absence fetal movements. A baby girl was born with 4080 g and an apgar index of 7/9. She was asymptomatic on discharge ([Fig. 2]). In the post-partum period she remained clinically stable, asymptomatic and she was diagnosed with a non-functioning macroadenoma. She suspended corticotherapy without relapse.

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 MRI showing pituitary apoplexy and arrows indicating the pituitary gland.
Zoom Image
Fig. 2 Non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracing on CTG.

#

Discussion

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare event and far less frequent in pregnancy. In the absence of more robust studies, the experience provided by case reports establishes an important guidance for managing these patients. The estimated prevalence of pituitary apoplexy is 1:10000 pregnancies at term, with a mean gestational age of diagnose of 24 weeks’ gestation and 10% of cases occurring in puerperium. In many cases, as in our case report, it constitutes the first presentation of a pituitary tumor, especially macroadenomas as they tend to be more hemorrhagic.[3] [14] [15]

Pituitary apoplexy can occur spontaneously or associated with pituitary tumors. The etiology is multifactorial, but several precipitating factors have been described: pregnancy (as in our clinical case), hemorrhagic disturbances, anticoagulation therapy, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, radiation or head trauma, cerebral aneurysm, major surgery, especially coronary artery bypass grafting, estrogen therapy, lumbar punction, upper respiratory tract infection, endocrine stimulation tests, initiation, or withdrawal of dopaminergic therapy.[1] [4] [5] [6] [7]

The typical presentation of pituitary apoplexy is the one described in our case, with sudden onset of severe bilateral headache, visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting and secondary symptoms to the involvement of cranial nerves (the oculomotor is the most frequently affected). The absence of classic symptoms can delay the diagnosis. In ∼80% of the cases, patients will develop deficiency of one or more anterior pituitary hormones, depending on the percentage of pituitary tissue destroyed. Gonadotrophins are the most affected, followed by ACTH and TSH and less frequently prolactin. In this case, gonadotrophins are difficult to value since they are physiologically braked in pregnancy.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Acute secondary adrenal insufficiency is seen in approximately two-thirds of patients with pituitary tumor apoplexy and it's the major source of mortality associated with the condition, requiring prompt corticosteroid replacement in anticipation.

The diagnosis is done in the presence of the clinical syndrome associated with sella turcica imaging. Magnetic resonance (MRI) is the most sensitive method to confirm the diagnosis and usually reveals a pituitary tumor with hemorrhagic and/or necrotic components.[4] [6]

In the pregnancy context the treatment of choice is conservative. Medical therapy includes corticotherapy, dopamine agonists, such as cabergoline and bromocriptine and reposition of hormonal deficits. Surgery might be required during pregnancy, when there are important visual disturbances due to compression, endocrinal hypersecretion (especially Cushing disease) or for life-threatening apoplexy.[4] [7] [14]

As a result of a literature research on Pubmed we found 36 case reports. From their analysis, we found that the average age of the pregnant women was 29 years old (±4 years), with an average gestational age of 25 weeks (±8 weeks) at diagnose. Most cases occurred in the second trimester. Regarding previously diagnosed lesions, it was present in 47% of patients. There were 7 cases of macroadenomas, 4 cases of microadenomas and 6 cases of adenomas without size specification. Therefore, pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy can be the first manifestation of an unrecognized pituitary adenoma in a large portion of this series. Headache was the most frequent symptom, being present in 86% of cases. Corticotherapy was used in 11% of cases and surgery was required in 61%. Most deliveries were uneventful. C-section was the mode of delivery in 15 cases, there were 6 cases of vaginal delivery and the route of delivery was unknown in 48% of the cases. There were 3 cases of preterm delivery and 28 term deliveries. There was one case of maternal death.


#

Conclusion

We consider our case report an example of successful management with conservative therapy, since our patient had sustained remission of symptoms without surgery and has already suspended medical treatment without relapse. We would like to reinforce that a precocious diagnosis is essential to a timely approach, avoiding the morbimortality potentially related to this condition.


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Conflicts to Interest

The authos have no conflicts of interest to declare.

  • References

  • 1 Abraham RR, Pollitzer RE, Gokden M, Goulden PA. Spontaneous pituitary apoplexy during the second trimester of pregnancy, with sensory loss. BMJ Case Rep 2016; 2016: bcr2015212405 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2015-212405.
  • 2 Al-Sharafi BA, Nassar OH. Successful pregnancy in a female with a large prolactinoma after pituitary tumor apoplexy. Case Rep Obstet Gynecol 2013; 2013: 817603
  • 3 Atmaca A, Dagdelen S, Erbas T. Follow-up of pregnancy in acromegalic women: different presentations and outcomes. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2006; 114 (03) 135-139
  • 4 Bamfo JE, Sharif S, Donnelly T, Cohen MA, Golara M. A case of pituitary apoplexy masquerading as hyperemesis gravidarum. J Obstet Gynaecol 2011; 31 (07) 662
  • 5 Chan JL, Gregory KD, Smithson SS, Naqvi M, Mamelak AN. Pituitary apoplexy associated with acute COVID-19 infection and pregnancy. Pituitary 2020; 23 (06) 716-720
  • 6 Couture N, Aris-Jilwan N, Serri O. Microprolactinoma apoplexy in pregnancy, Endocrine Practice Vol 18,. 2012
  • 7 de Heide LJM, van Tol KM, Doorenbos B. Pituitary apoplexy presenting during pregnancy. Neth J Med 2004; 62 (10) 393-396
  • 8 Freeman R, Wezenter B, Silverstein M. et al. Pregnancy-associated subacute hemorrhage into a prolactinoma resulting in diabetes insipidus. Fertil Steril 1992; 58 (02) 427-429
  • 9 Fujimaki T, Hotta S, Mochizuki T. et al. Pituitary apoplexy as a consequence of lymphocytic adenohypophysitis in a pregnant woman: a case report. Neurol Res 2005; 27 (04) 399-402
  • 10 Galvão A, Gonçalves D, Moreira M, Inocêncio G, Silva C, Braga J. Prolactinoma and pregnancy – a series of cases including pituitary apoplexy. J Obstet Gynaecol 2016
  • 11 Garrão A. et al. Livro de Endocrinologia e Gravidez. Grupo Estudos Endocrinol Gravidez 2018
  • 12 Gheorghiu ML, Chirita C, Coculescu M. Partial remission of Nelson's syndrome after pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy. Endocrin Abstr 2009; 19: 191
  • 13 Gondim J, Ramos Júnior F, Pinheiro I, Schops M, Tella Júnior OI. Minimally invasive pituitary surgery in a hemorrhagic necrosis of adenoma during pregnancy. Minim Invasive Neurosurg 2003; 46 (03) 173-176
  • 14 Graillon, et al. Surgical indications for pituitary tumors during pregnancy: a literature review. Pituitary 2019
  • 15 Grand'Maison S, Weber F, Bédard MJ, Mahone M, Godbout A. Pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy: A case series and literature review. Obstet Med 2015; 8 (04) 177-183
  • 16 Cokmez H, Bayram C. Pituitary apoplexy developing during pregnancy: escape from the verge of death,. Clinical and Experiment Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2020
  • 17 Hayes AR, O'Sullivan AJ, Davies MA. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep 2014
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Address for correspondence

Mariana Alves Patrício de Oliveira Gamito
Avenida Carlos Teixeira, 3 2674-514, Loures
Portugal   

Publication History

Received: 05 February 2022

Accepted: 21 March 2023

Article published online:
20 June 2023

© 2023. Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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  • References

  • 1 Abraham RR, Pollitzer RE, Gokden M, Goulden PA. Spontaneous pituitary apoplexy during the second trimester of pregnancy, with sensory loss. BMJ Case Rep 2016; 2016: bcr2015212405 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2015-212405.
  • 2 Al-Sharafi BA, Nassar OH. Successful pregnancy in a female with a large prolactinoma after pituitary tumor apoplexy. Case Rep Obstet Gynecol 2013; 2013: 817603
  • 3 Atmaca A, Dagdelen S, Erbas T. Follow-up of pregnancy in acromegalic women: different presentations and outcomes. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2006; 114 (03) 135-139
  • 4 Bamfo JE, Sharif S, Donnelly T, Cohen MA, Golara M. A case of pituitary apoplexy masquerading as hyperemesis gravidarum. J Obstet Gynaecol 2011; 31 (07) 662
  • 5 Chan JL, Gregory KD, Smithson SS, Naqvi M, Mamelak AN. Pituitary apoplexy associated with acute COVID-19 infection and pregnancy. Pituitary 2020; 23 (06) 716-720
  • 6 Couture N, Aris-Jilwan N, Serri O. Microprolactinoma apoplexy in pregnancy, Endocrine Practice Vol 18,. 2012
  • 7 de Heide LJM, van Tol KM, Doorenbos B. Pituitary apoplexy presenting during pregnancy. Neth J Med 2004; 62 (10) 393-396
  • 8 Freeman R, Wezenter B, Silverstein M. et al. Pregnancy-associated subacute hemorrhage into a prolactinoma resulting in diabetes insipidus. Fertil Steril 1992; 58 (02) 427-429
  • 9 Fujimaki T, Hotta S, Mochizuki T. et al. Pituitary apoplexy as a consequence of lymphocytic adenohypophysitis in a pregnant woman: a case report. Neurol Res 2005; 27 (04) 399-402
  • 10 Galvão A, Gonçalves D, Moreira M, Inocêncio G, Silva C, Braga J. Prolactinoma and pregnancy – a series of cases including pituitary apoplexy. J Obstet Gynaecol 2016
  • 11 Garrão A. et al. Livro de Endocrinologia e Gravidez. Grupo Estudos Endocrinol Gravidez 2018
  • 12 Gheorghiu ML, Chirita C, Coculescu M. Partial remission of Nelson's syndrome after pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy. Endocrin Abstr 2009; 19: 191
  • 13 Gondim J, Ramos Júnior F, Pinheiro I, Schops M, Tella Júnior OI. Minimally invasive pituitary surgery in a hemorrhagic necrosis of adenoma during pregnancy. Minim Invasive Neurosurg 2003; 46 (03) 173-176
  • 14 Graillon, et al. Surgical indications for pituitary tumors during pregnancy: a literature review. Pituitary 2019
  • 15 Grand'Maison S, Weber F, Bédard MJ, Mahone M, Godbout A. Pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy: A case series and literature review. Obstet Med 2015; 8 (04) 177-183
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Fig. 1 MRI showing pituitary apoplexy and arrows indicating the pituitary gland.
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Fig. 2 Non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracing on CTG.