A double pituitary adenoma presenting as a prolactin-secreting tumor with partial response to medical therapy. Case report.
Double pituitary adenomas are difficult to recognize pre-operatively as only a single mass may be appreciated on imaging. We present herein a giant prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma in a middle-aged man that had responded partially to dopamine agonist therapy. The excised specimen demonstrated a double adenoma. The prolactin-producing one displayed the expected morphological changes resulting from medical therapy, while the other, a gonadotroph adenoma, did not. The failure of tumor shrinkage can be attributed to the presence of a double adenoma, a previously unreported cause of failure of medical therapy in prolactinoma.
Coiré
Claire I
CI
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Trillium Health Centre, Mississauga, ON, Canada. ccoire@thc.on.ca
Smyth
Harley S
HS
Rosso
Dominic
D
Horvath
Eva
E
Kovacs
Kalman
K
D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000473:pathology; D000077465:Cabergoline; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004873:Ergolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052681:Gonadotrophs / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000150:complications; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004873:Ergolines; D000077465:Cabergoline