Reduction of pituitary-tumour size in patients with prolactinomas and acromegaly treated with bromocriptine with or without radiotherapy.
69 patients with prolactin-secreting or growth-hormone-secreting pituitary tumours were treated with bromocriptine with or without pituitary irradiation and followed up for 6 months to 6 1/2 years. Of 26 patients with prolactinomas, 11 had external pituitary irradiation in addition to bromocriptine. There was evidence of shrinkage of the pituitary tumour (either a reduction in fossa size or loss of visual-field defects) in 6 of these patients (23%), 3 of whom had been treated with bromocriptine alone. Of 43 acromegalic patients, 30 received external pituitary irradiation. 8 (19%) showed evidence of shrinkage of the pituitary tumour, including 2 who had received no radiotherapy. 1 patient treated with bromocriptine alone showed striking reduction in the size of his suprasellar extension, as assessed by serial computed-tomography scans over 11 months. At the same time his visual-field defects resolved and his deficient corticotrophin and thyrotrophin reserves returned to normal. Bromocriptine can reduce the size of both prolactin-secreting and growth-hormone-secreting pituitary tumours, and this is of potential importance in their management.
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010910:Pituitary Irradiation; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D001971:Bromocriptine; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone