Cavernous sinus syndrome due to prolactinoma: resolution with bromocriptine.
Cavernous sinus syndrome due to a pituitary tumor is quite rare. Our patient had a large prolacinoma that extended superiorly, causing bitemporal visual field defects, and laterally into the right cavernous sinus, causing tearing, dysesthesia in the distribution of the fifth cranial nerve, a loss of the corneal reflex, and a sixth cranial nerve palsy. Prolactin levels ranged between 800 and 1000 ng/mL. Treatment with 7.5 mg of bromocriptine daily caused a marked reduction in the size of the tumor and resolution of her visual field defects and cranial nerve dysfunction over 6 months. We feel that bromocriptine should be considered as initial therapy for patients with prolactinomas extending into the middle or posterior cranial fossae.
D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve
D001971:Bromocriptine; D011388:Prolactin