Step 1: Define the condition. Pituitary apoplexy is sudden haemorrhage or infarction of the pituitary gland, usually within a pre-existing adenoma.
Step 2: List its real features. It presents with severe sudden headache (often retro-orbital), nausea and vomiting, visual field defects, ophthalmoplegia with diplopia, impaired consciousness, and meningism.
Step 3: Key endocrine effect. Acute loss of ACTH causes secondary adrenal insufficiency, so the patient develops hypotension and may go into shock. Hypotension is therefore very much a recognised feature.
Step 4: Find the odd one out. Hypertension is NOT a feature of pituitary apoplexy. Note on the recall key: the crowd-recalled key marked hypotension (option C), but its own explanation lists hypotension and shock as present. Hypotension from acute adrenal crisis is a true finding, so the medically correct answer to NOT seen is hypertension (option B). Ref: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20e.