A young woman comes in today, complaining of fatigue, irregular menses, and polyuria which have gradually increased over the past few months. Which eye findings would be consistent with her condition?

Study for the Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking Exam. Prepare with multiple-choice questions, featuring hints and explanations. Get ready for success!

The situation described in the question suggests that the young woman's symptoms may be indicative of a condition such as a pituitary adenoma or another process affecting the pituitary gland, which can lead to hormonal imbalances resulting in fatigue, irregular menstrual cycles, and increased urination. Given this context, the eye finding that would be consistent with her condition is a bitemporal hemianopsia.

Bitemporal hemianopsia occurs when there is pressure on the optic chiasm, which is where the optic nerves partially cross. This can be caused by a mass effect from a pituitary tumor or other lesions located in the sella turcica region. As the tumor grows, it can compress the fibers of the optic nerves that carry visual information from the outer (temporal) fields of vision, leading to the characteristic loss of vision in the temporal fields in both eyes.

Recognizing this specific visual field defect is crucial for understanding the underlying pathology in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of pituitary dysfunction. The presence of bitemporal hemianopsia in this context is an important diagnostic clue that directs further evaluation, such as imaging of the brain, to assess for potential tumors or other abnormalities affecting the pituitary gland and surrounding structures.

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