Acute massive infarction of pituitary adenomas

✓ Five examples of acute massive infarction of a pituitary adenoma are described. In each case a severe head cold with nasal catarrh and persistent cough preceded the onset of the infarction. The clinical features varied from case to case and simulated bacterial meningitis, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, brain abscess, and cavernous sinus thrombosis. Two patients required urgent surgical treatment for relief of acute visual failure; three did not require surgical treatment but were relieved with corticosteroid therapy.