Reappraising the Role of Trans-Sphenoidal Surgery in Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Tumors

Hormonal control of pituitary prolactin-secreting tumors.

Prolactin secreting adenomas (prolactinomas) are the most prevalent form of pituitary tumors in humans. Prolactinomas have been linked to estrogen exposure in humans and animals. However, the mechanism by which estrogen increases mitogenesis in lactotropes, as well as other estrogen responsive cells, is not well understood. Given the complex nature of steroid hormones and their wide array of ac...

The History of Trans-sphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Tumours

Prolactin secreting pituitary carcinoma.

A man with a prolactin secreting pituitary carcinoma was treated by surgery and radiotherapy. Persistent hyperprolactinaemia partially responded to oral bromocriptine for four years. Serum prolactin then rose considerably with rapid, invasive tumour recurrence. Cytotoxic chemotherapy halted tumour progression for twelve months before fatal spread throughout the brain. Failure to normalise serum...

Sphenoidal Ectopic ACTH-secreting Pituitary Adenoma

INTRODUCTION Ectopic pituitary adenoma is defined as adenoma that occurs outside the sella without any continuity with the normal pituitary gland [1]. Since its description for the first time in 1909 by Erdheim in the vomero-sphenoidal region, about 75 cases have been reported in literature [2-12]. Sphenoid sinus followed by the suprasellar region remains the most common site for these adenomas...

Prolactin Secreting Pituitary Adenomas

Correspondence to: Ioana Muntean, e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT. Hyperprolactinemia has different etiologic forms, among them, the prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors represent an important entity. In our study, were analyzed the clinical aspects, diagnostic procedures and therapeutical approach of 31 cases of prolactinomas (F/M ratio = 27/4) hospitalized in the Clinic of Endocrinol...