title: Effect of the preoperative use of dopamine agonists in the postoperative course of prolactinomas: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since the 1980s, it has been discussed whether the preoperative treatment of prolactinomas with dopamine agonists (DAs) is beneficial or detrimental regarding postoperative residue or recurrence. Many neurosurgeons have emphasized the difficulties caused by fibrosis during the ablation of such prolactinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February to December 2012, the authors searched electronic databases and book chapters published from 1991 to 2012; a total of 3,771 articles and 37 book chapters were searched. Ten articles that explicitly addressed this issue were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five articles reported that preoperative treatment did not affect postoperative status. One article described a positive influence of preoperative treatment with DAs (P < .01), and 3 articles found a negative influence (P = .040, P = .02, no significance value reported). One article described histopathological evidence of tumor fibrosis that was found intraoperatively after preoperative DA treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This systematic review did not identify any strong evidence that preoperative treatment of prolactinomas with DAs is harmful or beneficial. Therefore, further studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Hospital Center, Spinciceva 1, 21000 Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carija
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Hospital Center, Spinciceva 1, 21000 Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tudor
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Clinical Hospital Center, Spinciceva 1, 21000 Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vucina
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D057234:Preoperative Period; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists