Tutorial 6 - The Gonads Flashcards
1
Q
A woman presents with: Headaches & tiredness Oligomenorrhoea Occasional expression of milk from her breasts (galactorrhoea) Loss in peripheral vision
Her blood test shows:
Prolactin - Very high
Oestradiol, LH, Progesterone - Low
What is the diagnosis?
A
Prolactinoma - tumour in pituitary gland makes too much prolactin.
Too much prolactin = negative feedback - switches off LH and FSH & switches ovaries off.
2
Q
How do you treat a prolactinoma?
A
Give them dopamine to suppress prolactin. (Very rare to operate).
Drugs used can also be cabergoline/ bromocriptine to suppress prolactin.
3
Q
What is a loss of peripheral vision called? How is this related and why
A
Bitemporal hemianopia
Caused by a tumour in the pituitary - presses on optic chasm.
Disrupts inner part of retina so temporal (outside) half of vision is lost.
Macroadenoma - big tumour (1cm or more) in pituitary.
