Prolactinoma is a benign tumor that develops within the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is an intricate part of our endocrine system that is responsible for the excretion of the hormone prolactin. The hormone prolactin signals the breast to begin milk production.
Sign and symptoms
The pituitary is located just inferior to the optic nerve; therefore, as the prolactinoma progresses in size, pressure may be place on the nerve. This pressure could cause physical symptoms such as headaches and/or visual problems. Other symptoms seen only in women are amenorrhea or irregular menses and vaginal dryness. Milky discharge from the breast, absent of a pregnancy, is a common symptom of women but is also seen in men. A decrease in sexual drive and erectile dysfunction are also associated with prolactinoma.
Treatment
The best imaging resource used to diagnose prolatinoma is MRI. There are two options for prolatinoma treatment: drug therapy and surgery. According to The Neuroendocrine Clinical Center & Pituitary Tumor Center, a dopamine agonist is used to discontinue the secretion of prolactin and secondly decrease the size of the tumor. The clinic also reported a success rate of approximately 80% of the patients that receive drug therapy returned to normal hormone levels with a reduction in tumor size (http://pituitary.mgh.harvard.edu/prolacti.htm). The surgical procedure should be used only as a last option or if symptoms are severe and quick relief is necessary. Surgical intervention has a minimal success rate with a 20-50 percent rate of reoccurrence within the next several years.
***The first image is of the transnasal surgical procedure. It is less traumatic than the latter translabial transsphenoidal surgery; however, neither appear pleasant.
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