scholarly journals Reversal of severe cognitive impairment following medical treatment of cystic invasive giant prolactinoma

Author(s):  
J Bukowczan ◽  
K Lois ◽  
M Mathiopoulou ◽  
A B Grossman ◽  
R A James

Summary Giant prolactinomas are rare tumours of the pituitary, which typically exceed 40 mm in their largest dimension. Impairment of higher cognitive function has been noted post-operatively after transcranial surgery and as a long-term consequence of the radiotherapy treatment. However, there has been little that is reported on such disturbances in relation to the tumour per se, and to our knowledge, there has been none in terms of responsivity to dopamine agonist therapy and shrinkage in these tumours. We present a case of successful restoration of severely impaired cognitive functions achieved safely after significant adenoma involution with medical treatment alone. Learning points Giant prolactinomas can be present with profound cognitive defects. Dopamine agonists remain in the mainstay first-line treatment of giant prolactinomas. Mechanisms of the reversible cognitive impairment associated with giant prolactinoma treatment appear to be complex and remain open to further studies. Young patients with giant prolactinomas mandate genetic testing towards familial predisposition.

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 231-235
Author(s):  
Alexandr I. Tsiberkin ◽  
Tatiana L. Karonova ◽  
Anna B. Dalmatova ◽  
Elena N. Grineva

Prolactinomas are the most common of hormone secreting pituitary adenomas. Patients with prolactinomas generally have a benign prognosis. An algorithm is currently available for managing of this disease. Giant prolactinoma larger than 40 mm with severe invasive growth account for about 2—3% of the prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas and evidence about management of such patients is limited. This case illustrates progress of a giant prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma up to 70 mm in young male with a family history of prolactinomas in the absence of the adequate therapy for 8 years after initial diagnosis. After evaluation, it was decided to prescribe medical treatment. Cabergoline therapy started after evaluation appeared to be effective and had lead to significant decrease of serum prolactin level and shrinkage of pituitary adenoma. Described case emphasize the crucial role of identification of hyperprolactinemia among young patients on early stages of the disease. Our observation implies that treatment with dopamine agonists might be effective even in cases with giant prolactinomas.


2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj K. Shrivastava ◽  
Marc S. Arginteanu ◽  
Wesley A. King ◽  
Kalmon D. Post

Object. Giant prolactinomas are rare tumors whose treatment and outcome has only been addressed in isolated case reports. The authors document the long-term follow-up findings and clinical outcome in a group of patients with giant prolactinomas. Methods. This study is a retrospective chart and clinical review of more than 2000 cases of pituitary tumors treated at the authors' institution, of which 10 met the criteria for inclusion (prolactin level > 1000 ng/ml, diameter > 4 cm on neuroimaging studies, and clinical signs of hyperprolactinemia/mass effect). The average follow-up duration was 6.7 years after initial treatment with either bromocriptine or transsphenoidal resection. In more than 90% of the patients in this series the disease was controlled by medical treatment with bromocriptine alone; the other 10% required early surgery via transsphenoidal resection. All patients had improvement in visual symptoms. All tumors had extrasellar components, five of which exhibited frank invasion of the cavernous sinus. Tumor volume on magnetic resonance imaging was decreased on average by 69%; this occurred at a faster rate and in larger amounts when treated with bromocriptine than has been reported in the literature for macroprolactinomas. Conclusions. According to long-term follow-up findings, giant prolactinomas are exquisitely responsive to dopamine agonist therapy. In giant prolactinomas the prolactin level does not correlate with size. The main indication for early surgery is intratumoral hematoma, whereas our main indications for late surgery are cerebrospinal fluid leakage caused by medical treatment, or an increasing prolactin level despite medical therapy. Checking prolactin levels in suspicious sellar and/or suprasellar lesions may be diagnostic and prevent unnecessary surgery.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A644-A644
Author(s):  
Vishwanath S ◽  
Belinda George ◽  
Vageesh Ayyar ◽  
Ganapathi Bantwal ◽  
Sonali Appaiah

Abstract Giant prolactinomas are large lactotroph adenomas, defined as those with maximum dimension of >4cm. They constitute <5% of all prolactin secreting tumors, and are more frequently seen in men. They present with features of hyperprolactinemia and hypopitutarism and are responsive to dopamine agonist therapies. In the current study we have shared our experience on management of giant prolactinomas over the last 15 years. We collected clinical data retrospectively from medical records of patients with giant prolactinoma managed at our institute over the last 15 years. This study describes the symptomatology, tumor characteristics and response to therapy. Our study included 21 patients with 15 males and 6 females. The mean age of presentation was 32 ± 10.3 years, ranging between 10 to 53 years. Vision defect was the predominant complaint (57%, 12 patients), followed by headache (52%, 11 patients). Erectile dysfunction was a presenting feature in 13% of men (2 patients) and amenorrhea/galactorrhea in 33% of women (2 patients). Seizure was seen in 10% of the patients (2 patients) and 10% (2 patients) were diagnosed with giant prolactinoma on evaluation for primary infertility. Tumor associated pituitary dysfunction manifested as hypogonadism in 67%, 14 patients, central hypothyroidism in 38%, 8 patients, and hypocortisolism in 1 patient. The median maximum tumor dimension was 4.4 cm with median basal PRL of 7168 ng/ml. Five patients underwent debulking surgery (24% of the patients) prior to endocrinology referral for indications such as apoplexy/raised intracranial tension. All patients received cabergoline and a mean dose of 2.1 ± 1.7 mg/week (range, 1-7 mg/week) was prescribed to attain a median nadir prolactin level of 48 ng/ml over a median period of 4 months (range, 1-40 months). The follow-up MRI data was analysed for 13 patients. Tumor shrinkage of >50% from the baseline was seen in all but 1 patient (92%) and 2 patients had disappearance of radiologically detectable tumor. Although giant prolactinomas have a greater tumor burden than the more common macroprolactinomas, the responsiveness to dopamine agonist therapy is excellent and surgical therapy is reserved for any exceedingly large tumors to relieve compression on vital structures.


2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  

Strategies to improve cognitive aging are highly needed. Among those, promotion of exercise and physical activity appears as one of the most attractive and beneficial intervention. Indeed, results from basic and clinical studies suggest that exercise and physical activity have positive effects on cognition in older persons without cognitive impairment, as well as in those with dementia. Despite inconsistent results, aerobic exercise appears to have the strongest potential to enhance cognition. However, even limited periods of walking (45 minutes, three times a week, over a 6-month period) have also been shown to enhance cognition, particularly executive functions. Changing long-term lifestyle habits in these older persons remains a critical challenge and attractive programs susceptible to gain adherence are needed to succeed in achieving improved cognitive aging.


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