Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pituitary apoplexy is a clinical syndrome caused by hemorrhage or ischemia of a pituitary adenoma, typically presenting with sudden-onset headache, visual disturbances, and cranial nerve palsy. Pituitary apoplexy is relatively rare in clinical practice and is often triggered by an imbalance between the high metabolic demands of pituitary adenomas and their blood supply. Ischemic injury leads to pituitary cell necrosis, resulting in hypopituitarism, which can cause systemic multi-organ dysfunction and pose significant health risks. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 73-year-old male admitted with Escherichia coli sepsis and septic shock secondary to a urinary tract infection. The patient had a history of bladder cancer and undergone bladder tumor resection one month prior, followed by intravesical chemotherapy. After initial anti-infective and glucose-lowering therapy, his condition improved. However, on the fourth day of admission, he developed a sudden headache. Further investigations revealed a sellar mass and hypopituitarism. A retrospective review of his history indicated postoperative atrial flutter and vision loss three weeks prior to admission. Pituitary apoplexy was suspected, and following infection control, the patient underwent endoscopic transnasal surgery. Pathological examination confirmed a pituitary adenoma with extensive infarction. Postoperatively, the patient's vision improved, and he was discharged on the 25th day of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Pituitary apoplexy is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that is often overlooked due to its nonspecific clinical manifestations. Diagnosing the condition is particularly challenging in the presence of concurrent severe infections. This case highlights the importance of carefully evaluating patients with postoperative headaches and vision changes. Cranial MRI and serum hormone testing should be considered to facilitate early diagnosis. Once confirmed, timely hormone replacement therapy and surgical intervention, when appropriate, can significantly improve patient outcomes.