Long-term radiographic follow-up of the sella turcica in hyperprolactinaemic women.
Seventy-three hyperprolactinaemic women were followed up with radiographic examinations (lateral and posteroanterior coned down views) of the sella turcica for 5 to 13 years during which time all but one had received treatment with bromocriptine. Progression of the sellar asymmetry occurred in 25 women (7 during pregnancy), 14 had regression of their changes in the pituitary fossa while 34 did not show any changes in the configuration of the sella turcica. Prolactin levels in serum, duration of bromocriptine therapy or sellar configuration could not predict later radiographic progressive or regressive changes of the sella turcica. The clinical course was benign in the majority of the women with signs of prolactin-producing adenomas. The risk of serious tumour enlargement seems to be very small. We were not able to demonstrate any parameter which could predict the growth or shrinkage of the tumour. Routinely repeated radiographic sellar examinations are unnecessary in the vast majority of hyperprolactinaemic women.
Rasmussen
C
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
Larsson
S G
SG
Bergh
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011859:Radiography; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013997:Time Factors
D001971:Bromocriptine