Prolactinoma

Prolactinoma is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland, which develops from hormone-producing cells of the anterior pituitary gland – prolactotrophs, manifested by increased secretion of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia). Occurs in approximately 30% of cases.
The secretion of prolactin, unlike other pituitary hormones, is under the predominantly inhibiting control of the hypothalamus. Dopamine, which is secreted by the cells of the nuclei of the hypothalamus, suppresses the function of lactotrophic cells that secrete prolactin.
Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone able to creating forms with different molecular weights and corresponding biological activity.
Women with prolactinoma may experience amenorrhea-lactorrhea syndrome, and men – impotence and gynecomastia.

Treatment of prolactinoma

Treatment of prolactinoma is selected individually in each case depending on the concentration of the hormone in the blood, neurological, visual and other symptoms. At the initial stage, drug therapy with dopamine agonists is most often used, if resistance to conservative therapy is detected, then surgical treatment is used in such cases. Radiation treatment is rarely prescribed.