Lactotroph Adenomas

Question 1

Hyperfunctioning pituitary adenoma is most often caused by what?

Answer 1

Prolacting- secreting lactoph adenomas

Question 2

How does the tumor manifest?

Answer 2

• Amenorrhea
• Galactorrhea
• Loss of libido
• Infertility

Question 3

How are they detected?

Answer 3

It easier to detect in premenopaus women then postmenopaus women or in men. Female in the reprodcutive years the tumor is diagnosed in early stage due to the complication of hyperprolactinemia (ex Amenorrhea). But in men and postmenopause females the tumor may reach a larg size before its detected.

Question 4

Hyperprolactinemia is found in other condition, which are the dd?

Answer 4

• Pregnancy
• High-dose estrogen therapy
• Renal failure
• Hypothyroidism
• Hypothalamic lesions
• Dopamine-inhibiting drugs

Question 5

Why does elevation of serum prolactin (<200 μg/L) in a patient with a pituitary adenoma do not necessarily indicate a prolactin-secreting neoplasm?

Answer 5

Any mass in the suprasellar compartment may disturb the normal inhibitory influence of hypothalamus on prolactin secretion, resulting in hyperprolactinemia—a mechanism known as the stalk effect