SHEEHANS-SYNDROME - DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS IN THE ACUTE-PHASE

Many studies have been done in the later course of Sheehan's syndrome, but very few have documented the acute phase with clinical, endocrine and imaging data. We present the case of a young woman complaining of severe headache after delivery, who developed hypopituitarism. Magnet ic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed the presence of an enlarged non h aemorrhagic pituitary gland, Follow-up MRI showed a spontaneous and ra pid shrinkage of the pituitary, within 20 days, which appeared as an e mpty sella 3 months later. Sheehan's syndrome may initially closely mi mic hypophysitis, or the necrosis of an adenoma. We discuss the differ ential diagnoses, important for the best therapeutic management.