Prolactinoma Treatment: An Introduction
- Return prolactin secretion to normal
- Reduce tumor size
- Correct any vision problems
- Restore normal pituitary function.
In the case of very large tumors, only partial achievement of these goals may be possible.
Prolactinoma treatment options can include:
- Medications
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy.
Medications Used in Prolactinoma Treatment
Because dopamine is the chemical that normally inhibits prolactin secretion, doctors may treat prolactinoma with bromocriptine or cabergoline, which are drugs that act like dopamine. This type of drug is called a dopamine agonist. These drugs shrink the tumor and return prolactin levels to normal in approximately 80 percent of patients.
Both medicines have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a prolactinoma treatment. Bromocriptine is the only dopamine agonist approved for the treatment of infertility, which is one of the common
prolactinoma symptoms. Another dopamine agonist, pergolide, is available in the United States, but it is not approved for the treatment of prolactinoma.