Prolactinoma (Cont.)

Treatment of a Prolactinoma

The goals of prolactinoma treatment are to:
 
  • Return prolactin secretion to normal
  • Reduce tumor size
  • Correct any visual problems
  • Restore normal pituitary function.
     
In the case of very large tumors, only partial achievement of these goals may be possible.
 
Treatment for prolactinoma tumors can include:
 
  • Medications
  • Surgery.
     
Medications used to treat a prolactinoma include bromocriptine or cabergoline. These drugs are called dopamine agonists, because they act similar to the dopamine naturally produced in the body. Dopamine is the chemical that normally inhibits the secretion of prolactin. These medicines shrink the tumor and return prolactin levels to normal in approximately 80 percent of patients.
 
Surgery should be considered as a prolactinoma treatment if medical therapy cannot be tolerated or if it fails to:
 
  • Reduce prolactin levels
  • Restore normal reproduction and pituitary function
  • Reduce tumor size.
     
If prolactinoma medical therapy is only partially successful, it should continue, possibly combined with surgery or radiation.
 

Prolactinoma: Additional Information

For more information on prolactinomas, see the following eMedTV articles:
 
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD