MR volumetry for monitoring intramuscular bromocriptine treatment in macroprolactinomas.
OBJECTIVE
To assess volumetric changes of pituitary prolactinomas, we applied a threshold-based segmentation algorithm in two patients during intramuscular bromocriptine treatment.


METHODS
Tumor volumes were calculated from contiguous slices of a 3D GE sequence and from conventional SE images.


RESULTS
After a single 50 mg i.m. bromocriptine administration, the prolactinoma volumes decreased by 25 and 35% within 7 and 11 days, respectively. Volume calculations from 3D GE images were more accurate than calculations from 3 mm 2D SE images, especially for smaller tumors. A decrease of prolactinoma size was paralleled by a decrease of serum prolactin levels and correlated with an improvement of visual field and endocrine function in both patients. The end of the bromocriptine effect was indicated by a reincreasing tumor volume, which was observed after 30 days in the first patients and after 43 days in the second patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that MR volumetry represents a useful tool to monitor changes of prolactinoma volume during bromocriptine treatment and may improve the clinical management of these patients.
Benesch
H
H
Department of Magnetic Resonance, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Felber
S R
SR
Finkenstedt
G
G
Kremser
C
C
Stockhammer
G
G
Aichner
F T
FT
D000328:Adult; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
D001971:Bromocriptine