A noncancerous tumour of the pituitary gland that causes overproduction of prolactin. In women, this may result in galactorrhoea, amenorrhoea, or infertility. In men, it may cause impotence and gynaecomastia. In either sex, it may cause headaches, diabetes insipidus, and, if the tumour presses on the optic nerves, loss of the outer visual field. Diagnosis is made from blood tests and CT scanning or MRI of the brain. Treatment may involve removal of the tumour, radiotherapy, or giving the drug bromocriptine.
n. a benign tumour (an *adenoma) of the pituitary gland that secretes excessive amounts of prolactin. Symptoms include loss of sexual drive, amenorrhoea or impotence, and sometimes production of breast milk in men and women. If the tumour is large enough it may compress and damage adjacent structures. Treatment is with dopamine receptor agonist drugs, such as *bromocriptine, as dopamine inhibits prolactin production and may also shrink and harden the tumour, facilitating later surgical removal.
n. a mass in the pituitary gland region that is associated with a raised blood prolactin level due to interference of the pituitary stalk (through which the chemical dopamine, the inhibitor of prolactin release, passes from the hypothalamus) rather than to increased prolactin production from a pituitary *prolactinoma.... pseudoprolactinoma
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