
Large prolactin-secreting tumors are rare and their endocrinological and surgical management may be complex. We report the case of a patient with a prolonged history of unilateral tinnitus and sensation of a stopped-up ear who had a very large, invasive and aggressive tumor of the sphenoidal region with bone destruction, invasion of structures in every direction from the sellar region and extracranial extension to the ethmoid and nasopharynx. Serum prolactin level at the time of diagnosis was 16,860 ng/ml (normal: 3-17 ng/ml). Medical treatment with bromocriptine reduced the prolactin level to 31 ng/ml and reduced the size of the tumor, although less than expected. The literature is reviewed and the rarity of such large, invasive prolactinomas is highlighted, as well as the absence of symptoms and signs suggesting the presence of such a large tumor of the skull base.
Adult, Male, Hormone Antagonists, Humans, Neoplasm Invasiveness, Neoplasms, Second Primary, Pituitary Neoplasms, Prolactinoma, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Skull Base Neoplasms, Bromocriptine
Adult, Male, Hormone Antagonists, Humans, Neoplasm Invasiveness, Neoplasms, Second Primary, Pituitary Neoplasms, Prolactinoma, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Skull Base Neoplasms, Bromocriptine
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
