Prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor in early adolescence: hormonal and electron microscopical studies.

Abstract

A 13-year-old boy was evaluated for an enlarged sella. There were no consistent visual field defects, and carotid arteriograms and pneumoencephalograms showed no extrasellar abnormality. The endocrine workup demonstrated a subnormal growth hormone reserve. The only other, but most striking abnormality, was an excessively high serum prolactin level, which was partially suppressed with levodopa. A chromophobe pituitary tumor was removed that had histological features suggestive of malignant neoplasm. Characteristics of a prolactin-secreting tumor were confirmed by electron microscopy. The serum prolactin levels decreased substantially after surgery and further after a course of pituitary irradiation; however, they continue to be elevated above normal. Prolactin determinations play in integral part in the evaluation for a possible pituitary tumor-not only for diagnostic purposes, but also to provide a parameter of future tumor activity in an established case. Electron microscopical studies are helpful in identifying the tumor as source of the excessive prolactin secretion.

• Authors: W G Schroffner
• Journal: Archives of internal medicine (Arch Intern Med) Vol. 136 Issue 10 Pg. 1164-8 (Oct 1976) ISSN: 0003-9926 [Print] United States
• PMID: 971016 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Prolactin
• Growth Hormone

Topics

• Adenoma, Chromophobe (blood, metabolism, ultrastructure)
• Adolescent
• Cytoplasmic Granules (ultrastructure)
• Exocytosis
• Glucose Tolerance Test
• Growth Hormone (blood)
• Humans
• Male
• Pituitary Gland (ultrastructure)
• Pituitary Neoplasms (blood, metabolism, ultrastructure)
• Prolactin (blood, metabolism)