[Prolactinoma in man: clinical and histological characteristics].

Abstract

Prolactinoma usually occurs a small intrasellar tumor in women or as a large tumor in men. To determine whether the predominance of macroprolactinomas in men is due to a delay in diagnosis as has been suggested, or whether there is a sex-related difference in growth rate we conducted a retrospective study in 45 men and 51 women with prolactinomas. Preoperative prolactin level (PRL) was 2,789 573 ng/ml and mean tumor size was 26 2 mm. Prolactin levels and tumor size were significantly higher in women (292 74 ng/ml and 10 1 mm; p<0.01). There was no correlation with age at diagnosis or duration of symptoms. Giant tumors were only observed in men (n=8). Frequency of resistance to bromocriptine (30% vs 5%, p<0.01) and invasive tumors (52% vs 27%, p<0.001) were significantly higher in men than in women. Likewise, proliferation rate was higher for the prolactinomas in men (Ki-67: 2.6 1.1% positive nuclei vs 0.4 0.2%; p=0.08; PCNA: 5.0 2.3% vs 3.7 1.1%). In conclusion, prolactinomas in men are more aggressive than in women. They grow rapidly, often invade the cavernous sinus and are resistant to bromocriptine; proliferation rates can be increased.

• Authors: J Trouillas, E Delgrange, E Jouanneau, D Maiter, M P Guigard, J Donckier, G Perrin, M Jan, J Tourniaire
• Journal: Annales d'endocrinologie (Ann Endocrinol (Paris)) Vol. 61 Issue 3 Pg. 253-7 (Sep 2000) ISSN: 0003-4266 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Le prolactinome de l'homme: caractères cliniques et histologiques.
• PMID: 10970951 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hormone Antagonists
• Ki-67 Antigen
• Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
• Bromocriptine
• Prolactin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Bromocriptine (therapeutic use)
• Cell Division
• Drug Resistance
• Female
• Hormone Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Ki-67 Antigen (analysis)
• Male
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Pituitary Neoplasms (diagnosis, drug therapy, pathology)
• Prolactin (antagonists & inhibitors, blood)
• Prolactinoma (diagnosis, drug therapy, pathology)
• Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (analysis)
• Retrospective Studies
• Sex Characteristics