title: Surgical treatment of prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas: early results and long-term outcome.
abstract: Medical therapy with dopaminergic drugs is the preferred initial treatment for symptomatic prolactin (PRL)-secreting adenomas; but in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in surgery. The aim of this study is to report a large series of patients operated for prolactinoma in the last 10 yr. A total of 120 consecutive patients (93 female, 27 male) underwent surgery from January 1990 to December 1999. Their mean age at surgery was 29.7 +/- 0.9 yr. Fifty-nine patients (49.2%) had a microadenoma, and the remaining 61 (50.8%) had a macroadenoma, of which 24 (20%) were intrasellar and 37 (30.8%) were extrasellar adenoma. Magnetic resonance imaging signs of invasion of the cavernous sinus were detected in 18 patients (15.0%). Thirty-one patients (25.8%) had never been treated before, whereas the remaining 89 (74.2%) had received dopaminergic drugs. After surgery, normalization of PRL levels occurred in 77 patients (64.2%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the only predictive factor of unsuccessful surgery was a high preoperative PRL level. Recurrence of hyperprolactinemia occurred in 13 of the 77 cured patients (16.9%) during a mean follow-up of 50.2 +/- 3.0 months; the 5-yr disease-free survival was 75.9%. Extrasellar extension of the tumor and presence of a postoperative PRL response to TRH were associated with a lower risk of relapse. In summary, surgery normalized PRL levels and relieved symptoms of hyperprolactinemia in most patients. Recurrence of hyperprolactinemia occurred within 4 yr after surgery. Transsphenoidal surgery can be offered as a definitive therapy, especially to patients with intrasellar tumors.
authors.affiliation: Pituitary Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele, Università Vita-Salute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy. losa.marco@hsr.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Losa
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mortini
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barzaghi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gioia
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovanelli
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012008:Recurrence; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin