Background. Prolactinomas invading the skull base are rare, and could easily be confused with skull base tumors of nonpituitary origin. Case description. We report a series of 4 cases of giant prolactinomas invading the skull base and presenting with atypical symptoms. Case 1 presented with a short history of headache and nasal obstruction. Case 2 presented with progressive hypoacusia, dizziness, and ophthalmoplegia. In Case 3, the patient developed rapid progressive visual failure and psychiatric symptoms. Case 4 presented with a 1-year history of headache and retrorbital pain. The diagnosis of prolactinoma was made on the basis of tumor immunohistochemistry and/or high plasma prolactin levels (range from 650-6,500 ng/mL). Medical treatment with the dopamine agonist cabergoline was given; it was effective in normalizing prolactin levels and inducing tumor shrinkage. Conclusion. Prolactin levels should be measured in all large skull base tumors involving the pituitary region before any surgery or inappropriate radiotherapy is performed. Copyright © 2002 Elsevier Science Inc.
Minniti, G., Jaffrain-Rea, M.-., Santoro, A., Esposito, V., Ferrante, L., Delfini, R., et al. (2002). Giant prolactinomas presenting as skull base tumors. SURGICAL NEUROLOGY, 57(2), 99-103 [10.1016/S0090-3019(01)00697-8].
Giant prolactinomas presenting as skull base tumors
Minniti G.
;
2002-01-01
Abstract
Background. Prolactinomas invading the skull base are rare, and could easily be confused with skull base tumors of nonpituitary origin. Case description. We report a series of 4 cases of giant prolactinomas invading the skull base and presenting with atypical symptoms. Case 1 presented with a short history of headache and nasal obstruction. Case 2 presented with progressive hypoacusia, dizziness, and ophthalmoplegia. In Case 3, the patient developed rapid progressive visual failure and psychiatric symptoms. Case 4 presented with a 1-year history of headache and retrorbital pain. The diagnosis of prolactinoma was made on the basis of tumor immunohistochemistry and/or high plasma prolactin levels (range from 650-6,500 ng/mL). Medical treatment with the dopamine agonist cabergoline was given; it was effective in normalizing prolactin levels and inducing tumor shrinkage. Conclusion. Prolactin levels should be measured in all large skull base tumors involving the pituitary region before any surgery or inappropriate radiotherapy is performed. Copyright © 2002 Elsevier Science Inc.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
https://hdl.handle.net/11365/1123999
Attenzione
Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo