Pituitary adenoma (prolactinoma)

In endocrinological practice, we encounter elevated prolactin levels, which can be caused by many factors, one of which is a prolactinoma.

Prolactinoma -it is a benign tumor (pituitary adenoma) that produces the hormone prolactin. This is the most common type of functioning pituitary tumor. Symptoms of prolactinoma occur due to too much prolactin in the blood (hyperprolactinemia) or due to the pressure of the tumor on surrounding tissues.

Clinical manifestations that an endocrinologist or any other therapeutic profile doctor may encounter with elevated prolactin are as follows:

• Thermoregulation disorder
• Emotional shifts such as tearfulness, depression, aggression, nervousness, lethargy
• Sleep disorder
• Pressing and bursting headache
• Nausea, vomiting
• Pressure sensation in the eyeballs, vision reduction
• Frigidity, decreased libido
• Infertility
• Nipple discharge outside the lactation period
• Weight gain, obesity

In men, the following may also be noted:

• Decreased Libido and Potency
• Infertility
• Gynecomastia (enlargement of the breast glands)

Diseases often associated with elevated prolactin:

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Hypothyroidism
• Kidney failure
• Fibrocystic mastopathy

Golden  standard  instrumentally й diagnostics  adenomas  pituitary  is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI , which allows to identify  even small adenomas  sizes
up to 5 mm

To improve image quality and detect small adenomas, intravenous contrast enhancement is used during the examination.

When an elevated level of prolactin is detected and there is no pituitary adenoma, it is recommended to check the function of the kidneys, liver, thyroid gland, and mammary glands.

Endocrinologist-Dietitian at V.S. Buzaev International Medical Centre
Barsukova (Kuzina) Lilia Albertovna.