title: A case of macroprolactinoma encasing an internal carotid artery aneurysm, presenting as pituitary apoplexy.
abstract: We present the first case of successful non-surgical treatment of an internal carotid aneurysm, embedded within a macroprolactinoma. A 53 year old male, with a previous history of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), presented with severe right sided frontal headache, decreased visual acuity, and ophthalmolplegia due to a third nerve palsy. A CT scan showed a 4.6 by 4.8 cm mass in the pituitary fossa with bony erosion. Initially, it was thought to be a cerebral recurrence of the Non-Hodgkin's disease. Direct questioning revealed a long history of erectile dysfunction with loss of libido. Prolactin at presentation was 537, 200 mU/l and a diagnosis of macroprolactinoma, with apoplexy was made. A subsequent MRI brain confirmed a large macroadenoma with an intra cavernous aneurysm encased by the tumour. A therapeutic dilemma ensued due to the need for urgent decompression of the visual pathways, preferably by surgery. However, in the presence of an intrasellar aneurysm, surgery would have been extremely hazardous. The patient was therefore commenced on cabergoline and rapidly titrated up to 4 mg per week. The aneurysm was treated by endovascular occlusion of the right carotid artery under radiological control. The combination of these therapies, without conventional surgical intervention, resulted in resolution of the third nerve palsy and recovery of visual acuity in the left eye. The diagnosis and management of this condition was challenging and the final outcome, with non-surgical treatment and carotid artery occlusion was satisfactory.
authors: Department of Endocrinology, The Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK.
authors: Anushka
authors: A
authors: Soni
authors: Samantha Roshani
authors: SR
authors: De Silva
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Allen
authors: James V
authors: JV
authors: Byrne
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Cudlip
authors: John A H
authors: JA
authors: Wass
mesh_terms: D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D021721:Balloon Occlusion; D000077465:Cabergoline; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004873:Ergolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000209:etiology; D010899:Pituitary Apoplexy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004873:Ergolines; D000077465:Cabergoline