Visual field defect seen in pituitary tumour is: March 2012
## **Core Concept**
The question tests knowledge of the visual pathway and its relationship with the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is located below the optic chiasm, and its enlargement, such as by a tumor, can compress the optic chiasm. This anatomical relationship is crucial for understanding the type of visual field defect that occurs.
## **Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer, **Bitemporal hemianopia**, is right because the optic chiasm is compressed by a pituitary tumor, leading to damage to the crossing nasal fibers from each eye. These fibers carry information from the temporal visual fields. As a result, the patient experiences a loss of vision in the outer half of each visual field, which is known as bitemporal hemianopia. This condition occurs due to the specific anatomy of the optic chiasm and the location of the pituitary gland.
## **Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
- **Option A: Homonymous hemianopia** is incorrect because it results from lesions posterior to the optic chiasm (e.g., in the optic tract, radiation, or occipital lobe), affecting the visual field on the same side in both eyes.
- **Option C: Blindness** is incorrect because it would require a more extensive or severe lesion affecting both optic nerves or the entire optic chiasm and posterior visual pathways.
- **Option D: Upper temporal quadrantopia** is incorrect because, while a pituitary tumor can cause visual field defects, the specific defect of upper temporal quadrantopia does not accurately describe the typical bitemporal hemianopia seen with chiasmal compression.
## **Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key clinical point to remember is that **bitemporal hemianopia** is classically associated with **pituitary tumors** due to their anatomical location. This visual field defect should prompt consideration of a sellar/suprasellar lesion, such as a pituitary adenoma.
## **Correct Answer: B. Bitemporal hemianopia**