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Unusual presentation of more common disease/injury
CASE REPORT
Visual loss in pregnancy
  1. Caroline Annette Erika Bachmeier1,
  2. Cameron Snell2 and
  3. Adam Morton1
  1. 1 Queensland Diabetes and Endocrine Centre, Mater Misericordiae Brisbane Ltd, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  2. 2 Anatomical Pathology, Mater Pathology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Caroline Annette Erika Bachmeier, carolinebachmeier{at}hotmail.de

Abstract

Visual loss in pregnancy may be caused by a variety of reasons including pituitary adenomas. Prolactinomas (PRLs) are the most common hormone-secreting tumours in pregnant women. As most PRLs present with menstrual abnormalities, infertility or galactorrhoea, they are most commonly diagnosed before pregnancy. We present the case of a 30-year-old primigravida who presented at 36+5 weeks gestation with headaches and left-sided visual loss. MRI of the pituitary gland confirmed a 10×11 mm left suprasellar mass. Results of her anterior pituitary function were unremarkable for her gestational age. Postpartum, she underwent an endoscopic endonasal resection of the pituitary tumour. The histology was consistent with a PRL. Literature review reveals only one possible case of a new diagnosis of a PRL during pregnancy. It highlights the importance to consider a wide range of differential diagnoses when assessing visual loss in pregnancy.

  • endocrinology
  • pituitary disorders
  • neuro-ophthalmology
  • obstetrics and gynaecology
  • pregnancy

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2018-228323

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors CAEB reviewed the patient as her function as an endocrinology advanced trainee with AM as the overseeing consultant. CS provided considerable input with the interpretation of histology results. All the authors contributed significantly to the care of the patient and had considerable input in the writing of this manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Patient consent for publication Obtained.