Galactorrhea may be clue to serious problems. Patients deserve a thorough workup.
Three cases of nonphysiologic hyperprolactinemia associated with pituitary disease evidenced by galactorrhea are presented. Two patients had significant pituitary disease associated with low-level prolactin elevations. The third patient had only a history of infertility and expressible galactorrhea on examination. This patient was found to have high prolactin levels and a locally invasive pituitary tumor. Physicians need to be aware of the serious conditions associated with galactorrhea so that appropriate diagnostic studies can be done and treatment instituted.
Whitman-Elia
G F
GF
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, USA.
Windham
N Q
NQ
D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000238:Adenoma, Chromophobe / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005687:Galactorrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000209:etiology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis