Prolactinomas may have unusual presentations resulting from massive extrasellar tumor extension

Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016 Jul;74(7):544-8. doi: 10.1590/0004-282X20160083.

Abstract

The purpose of this case series is to report eight patients with giant prolactinomas emphasizing presentations and a treatment complication. The study group included six men and two women. The median age was 29 years (18-54 years); median serum prolactin level was 4,562 ng/ml (1,543-18,690 ng/ml); three patients (37.5%) had panhypopituitarism; median tumor diameter was 50 mm (41-60 mm). Five patients (62.5%) had visual field defects and three had improvement during treatment; six patients (75%) reached prolactin normalization, with a median time of 10.5 months (7-84 months) and median dose of 2.0 mg/week (1.0 to 3.0 mg/week). One patient presented as a true incidentaloma. One patient presented a cerebrospinal fluid leakage during medical treatment and refused surgery, however this resolved with conservative measures. This case series illustrate a rare subtype of macroprolactinomas, the importance of considering unusual presentations at the diagnosis, the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment and its possible complications.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cabergoline
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak / pathology
  • Dopamine Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Ergolines / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Prolactin / blood
  • Prolactinoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Prolactinoma / pathology*
  • Prolactinoma / therapy*
  • Sella Turcica / pathology
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Burden
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Ergolines
  • Prolactin
  • Cabergoline