The Vanishing Pituitary Tumor: A Case Report

Abstract

Prolactinomas are the most common functional pituitary tumors and present with elevated serum prolactin levels. This may or may not be accompanied by mass-related clinical symptoms. Dopamine agonists are its principal treatment. Data on prolactinoma remission and relapse after treatment withdrawal are limited. Here we report a patient presenting with headache, amenorrhea, galactorrhea, visual field impairments and a high serum prolactin level. After a definitive diagnosis of pituitary macroadenoma, the patient was treated with bromocriptine. Twelve months after treatment, tumor size markedly reduced, there was resolution of symptoms and patient was eventually lost to follow-up. After 10 months without treatment, tumor recurred. Bromocriptine was resumed for 5 more years and discontinued thereafter. Since then, the patient has been asymptomatic for the past 12 years; surveillance imaging showed no tumor recurrence with annual prolactin level all within normal range. This case adds to the limited data confirming that dopamine agonists in patients with prolactinomas can be successfully discontinued with a high remission rate, provided that there is adequate duration of treatment and sufficient follow-up.

J Endocrinol Metab. 2021;11(3-4):91-93
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jem753