Unusual clinical presentations of giant prolactinomas

Pituitary. 2011 Dec;14(4):340-4. doi: 10.1007/s11102-008-0160-0.

Abstract

Giant prolactinomas are rare pituitary tumors which have scarcely been reported in the literature. We describe three men with unusual presenting features of prolactin-secreting giant pituitary adenomas: prolonged and increasingly disturbing intolerance to light and noise; strange behavior and mood disturbances; and rhinorrhea followed by a finding of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Treatment with dopamine agonist alleviated all symptoms, with concomitant suppression of plasma prolactin levels and a significant reduction in tumor mass. These cases emphasize the importance of considering unusual symptoms in the differential diagnosis of giant prolactinomas and the effectiveness of medical treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prolactinoma / diagnosis*
  • Prolactinoma / pathology
  • Tumor Burden