title: Hypopituitarism patterns among adult males with prolactinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to characterize hypopituitarism in adult males with prolactinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the records of 102 consecutive patients, classified under three categories based on adenoma size at diagnosis: 1.0-2.0cm (group A), 2.1-4.0cm (group B), and >4.0cm (group C). Further, 76 patients had successful outcomes at follow-up. We compared different forms of pituitary hormone dysfunction (growth hormone deficiency, hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, and hypocortisolism) based on the maximal adenoma diameter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum prolactin levels were significantly correlated with the maximal adenoma diameter (r=0.867; P=0.000). Of the patients, 89.2% presented with pituitary failure, which included 74.5% with growth hormone deficiency, 71.6% with hypogonadism, 28.4% with hypothyroidism, and 12.7% with hypocortisolism. The three groups did not differ significantly (P>0.05) in the incidence of hypopituitarism, including the extent of pituitary axis deficiency, at presentation and following treatment. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the degree of hypogonadism in cases of acquired pituitary insufficiency at diagnosis (P=0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In adult males with prolactin-secreting adenomas, the most common form of pituitary hormone dysfunction was growth hormone deficiency and hypogonadism, whereas hypocortisolism was less common. The maximal adenoma diameter and prolactin secretion did not determine hormone insufficiency in adult males with prolactinomas, but these factors did affect the degree of both hypogonadism and hypothyroidism. Smaller tumors were found to recur more frequently than large tumors, and recovery was more common in cases of growth hormone deficiency and hypogonadism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Junxiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Liuzhou People's Hospital, Liuzhou 545006, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Mingxing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: sjwkqisongtao@126.com.
authors.forename: Songtao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
authors.forename: Danling
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin
keywords: Adult male; Hypopituitarism; Pituitary; Prolactinoma