Stubborn hiccups as a sign of massive apoplexy in a naive acromegaly patient with pituitary macroadenoma

Abstract

Summary Pituitary apoplexy (PA) may very rarely present with hiccups. A 32-year-old man with classical acromegaloid features was admitted with headache, nausea, vomiting and stubborn hiccups. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated apoplexy of a macroadenoma with suprasellar extension abutting the optic chiasm. Plasma growth hormone (GH) levels exhibited suppression (below <1 ng/mL) at all time points during GH suppression test with 75 g oral glucose. After treatment with corticosteroid agents, he underwent transsphenoidal pituitary surgery and hiccups disappeared postoperatively. The GH secretion potential of the tumor was clearly demonstrated immunohistochemically. We conclude that stubborn hiccups in a patient with a pituitary macroadenoma may be a sign of massive apoplexy that may result in hormonal remission. Learning points: Patients with pituitary apoplexy may rarely present with hiccups. Stubborn hiccupping may be a sign of generalized infarction of a large tumor irritating the midbrain. Infarction can be so massive that it may cause cessation of hormonal overproduction and result in remission.