What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Headache due to Pituitary Apoplexy

What is Headache Attributed to Pituitary Apoplexy? (Definition/Background Information)

• Headache Attributed to Pituitary Apoplexy is a headache disorder that occurs secondary to pituitary apoplexy, an uncommon but life-threatening event that can arise from a variety of conditions. Headaches associated with pituitary apoplexy are typically severe, have a sudden-onset (resembling thunderclap headaches), and may concurrently present visual disturbances and/or pituitary gland dysfunction
• Pituitary apoplexy is an emergency medical condition in which tissue death (infarcts) and bleeding (hemorrhaging) of the pituitary gland occurs. This can cause a state of altered consciousness, facial pain, loss of appetite, seizures, vision impairment, and endocrine abnormalities, apart from severely intense headaches
• Some of the conditions that cause pituitary apoplexy include:
  • Pituitary adenomas
  • Radiation therapy to the brain region
  • Long-term high blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Use of certain medications
  • Any major surgical procedure
  • Head trauma
  • Pregnancy

The criteria for diagnosis of Headache Attributed to Pituitary Apoplexy as outlined by the International Headache Society (IHS) is given below:

• Acute hemorrhagic pituitary infarction has been diagnosed
• Any new headache fulfilling the criterion below

Evidence of causation demonstrated by at least two of the following:

• Headache has developed in close temporal relation to other symptoms and/or clinical signs of pituitary apoplexy, or has led to the diagnosis of pituitary apoplexy
• Either or both of the following:
  • Headache has significantly worsened in parallel with other symptoms and/or clinical signs of pituitary apoplexy
  • Headache has significantly improved in parallel with other symptoms and/or clinical signs of improvement of pituitary apoplexy
• Headache is severe and of sudden or thunderclap onset

Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

(Source: International Headache Society Classification ICHD-3, London, United Kingdom)