Prolactinoma treatment

Prolactinoma A prolactinoma is a type of tumor that develops in the pituitary gland at the base of your brain. Prolactinoma is a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland. This tumor causes the pituitary gland to make too much of a hormone called prolactin. The major effect of a prolactinoma is decreased levels of some sex hormones — namely, estrogen and testosterone. A prolactinoma isn't life-threatening. But it can cause vision difficulties, infertility and other problems. Prolactinoma is the most common type of hormone-producing tumor that can develop in the pituitary gland. Symptoms A prolactinoma might not cause any signs or symptoms. However, too much prolactin in your blood (hyperprolactinemia) can cause symptoms. So can pressure on surrounding tissues from a large tumor. Because too much prolactin can disrupt the reproductive system (hypogonadism), some of the signs and symptoms of a prolactinoma are specific to females or males. In females, prolactinoma can cause: • Irregular menstrual periods or no menstrual periods • Milky discharge from the breasts when not pregnant or breastfeeding • Painful intercourse due to vaginal dryness • Acne and excessive body and facial hair growth In males, prolactinoma can cause: • Erectile dysfunction • Decreased body and facial hair • Smaller muscles • Enlarged breasts In both females and males, prolactinoma can cause: • Infertility • Weak and brittle bones that break easily (osteoporosis) • Loss of interest in sexual activity Pre...

The pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland at the base of your Sometimes, a tumor grows on the pituitary gland and makes too much prolactin. This kind of tumor is called a prolactinoma. It's the most common type of pituitary tumor and is most often benign, which means it’s not cancer. A new mom's prolactin levels go up every time their baby nurses. But for men or women who aren't nursing, high prolactin in the Doctors don't know what causes it, but it's fairly common. It happens more often in women than men, and it's rare in kids. Symptoms The signs of a prolactinoma are different in men and women. For women, typical symptoms of a small tumor include: • Irregular menstrual periods • Lack of menstrual periods • Low • Painful intercourse (caused by • Problems with • Unusual production of Because changes in a woman's period are obvious, prolactinomas are more likely to be found early in premenopausal women. Postmenopausal women, who no longer get their periods, may not notice symptoms when the tumor is small. When a prolactinoma becomes large, it may press up against other nearby tissues. Symptoms then can include When a man is diagnosed with a prolactinoma, it tends to be large. Men often aren't diagnosed when they have early signs, which include: • Problems getting or maintaining an erection • Decreased interest in sex • Breast milk production in rare cases Diagnosis You can expect a If your doctor thinks you might have a pituitary tumor, they may order an MRI (magnetic reson...

Medical Treatment The goal of treatment is to return prolactin secretion to normal, reduce tumor size, correct any visual abnormalities and restore normal pituitary function. In the case of very large tumors, only partial achievement of this goal may be possible. Because dopamine is the chemical that normally inhibits prolactin secretion, doctors first treat a prolactinoma with dopamine agents (agonists). There are two dopamine agents that are often prescribed. Cabergoline may be offered as a weekly dose and my be more effective and better tolerated that Bromocriptine, which is taken daily. Bromocriptine shrinks the tumor and returns prolactin levels to normal in the majority of patients. To avoid side effects such as nausea and dizziness, it is important for bromocriptine treatment to start slowly. Usual maintenance doses are 2.5 (one tablet) to 7.5 mg (3 tablets) daily. Bromocriptine treatment should not be interrupted without consulting an endocrinologist. Prolactin levels often rise again in most people when the drug is discontinued. While medical treatment is often the first option for prolactinomas, in selected cases, surgical treatment might be a better choice than long-term medication because surgery is curative in a high percentage of cases.

Overview What is prolactinoma? A prolactinoma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor that forms in your At least half of all prolactinomas are very small (less than 1 centimeter or 3/8 of an inch in diameter). These small tumors are called microprolactinomas and happen more often in people assigned female at birth (AFAB). Larger prolactinomas are more common in people assigned male at birth (AMAB), and they tend to occur at an older age. Tumors larger than 3/8 of an inch or 1 centimeter in diameter are called macroprolactinomas. What is prolactin? Prolactin levels are normally low in people assigned male at birth (AMAB) and non-lactating and non-pregnant people. They’re normally elevated in people who are pregnant or breastfeeding (chestfeeding). Having higher-than-normal levels of prolactin in your blood (hyperprolactinemia) — usually caused by a prolactinoma — can cause infertility and other issues. What is the pituitary gland? Your pituitary gland is a small, grape-sized gland located at the base of your brain below your hypothalamus. It’s a part of your Who gets prolactinomas? Prolactinomas occur most commonly in people under the age of 40. They’re more common in people assigned female at birth than people assigned male at birth and rarely occur in children and adolescents. How common are prolactinomas? Small, non-cancerous Symptoms and Causes What are the symptoms of a prolactinoma? The symptoms of a prolactinoma can vary depending on how much excess prolactin it’s produci...