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Robert Raskind, MD
Kern Medical Center Bakersfield, Calif

JAMA. 1981;246(8):834-835.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Regarding the article on pituitary apoplexy by Fitz-Patrick et al (1980;244:59), in the light of such excellent computed tomograms (CTs), I am wondering what the reason is for carrying out angiography and pneumoencephalography (PEG) in these cases. Carotid angiography was done to rule out a giant aneurysm in the days before CT scanning was available, but with high-resolution contrasted scans, I have considered this more or less pointless. With such a clear-cut history of endocrinopathy and enlargement and erosion of the sella turcica, I cannot figure out in any way how a spinal puncture contributes to the diagnosis and management.

From the time the patient is seen in the emergency room, plain skull films, drawing of the endocrine panel, completion of the necessary preoperative lab work, and CTs can all be carried out within a space of four to six hours, and surgery can be carried out . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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