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Apoplexy in Previously Known Tumours

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Pituitary Apoplexy

Abstract

Pituitary apoplexy (haemorrhage or infarction) usually occurs in patients, who were not previously diagnosed to have pituitary adenomas. There are conflicting reports on the commonest types of tumour responsible for apoplexy. Some studies have shown predominance of non-functional adenomas, other studies have reported higher prevalence in functioning adenomas among which prolactinomas have the highest risk, and other studies have shown equal prevalence among functioning and non-functioning tumours. Prospective follow-up studies have reported the occurrence of pituitary apoplexy in previously diagnosed non-functioning pituitary adenomas. Several retrospective studies have reported occurrence of pituitary apoplexy among patients with previously diagnosed functioning as well non-functioning tumours. Pituitary apoplexy has been reported as early as 6 months to as late as 18 years after the diagnosis of functioning tumours. Resolution of hormonal hypersecretion in previously known functional tumours has also been reported in some studies.

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Abbreviations

ACTH:

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

CRH:

Corticotropin hormone

Gd-DTPA:

Gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid

GH:

Growth hormone

GnRH:

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

PRL:

Prolactin

TRH:

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Singjamei, Chingamakha, Liwa Road, Imphal, Manipur, 795008, India

    Ranabir Salam MD, DM

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Excel Center, Maya Ville, Batthakur Mill Road, Ulubari, Guwahati, Assam, 781007, India

    Manash P. Baruah MBBS, MD, DM

Authors
  1. Ranabir Salam MD, DM
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  2. Manash P. Baruah MBBS, MD, DM
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ranabir Salam MD, DM .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Adnan Menderes University, School of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey

    Mehmet Turgut

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Neurosciences Center (AIIMS), New Delhi, India

    Ashok Kumar Mahapatra

  3. The Victor Horsley Nerosurgical Department, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom

    Michael Powell

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Madurai Medical College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

    Natarajan Muthukumar

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Salam, R., Baruah, M.P. (2014). Apoplexy in Previously Known Tumours. In: Turgut, M., Mahapatra, A., Powell, M., Muthukumar, N. (eds) Pituitary Apoplexy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38508-7_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38508-7_5

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-38508-7

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