What Causes Pituitary Apoplexy?

Radiation Therapy To The Pituitary Gland

An individual who experiences pituitary apoplexy may have had recent radiation therapy to the pituitary gland. Radiation therapy is a form of treatment where high energy beams of protons or x-rays are used to damage the DNA inside of cancerous or benign tumor cells to stop the tumor from growing and or reduce its size. During this type of treatment, precautions are taken to ensure the most precise concentration of the potent beams of energy. However, tissues that neighbor the area being treated with radiation therapy still incur damage. Pituitary apoplexy has been caused by the death of tissues and the bursting of blood vessels that produce a bleed in the pituitary gland that has precipitated from radiation therapy. This particular cause of pituitary apoplexy usually only applies to pituitary adenomas being treated with radiation therapy that exhibit specific characteristics. Tumors with a high density of blood vessels and those considered very cystic are vulnerable to hemorrhagic necrosis-precipitated pituitary apoplexy.