Is a stable or decreasing prolactin level in a patient with prolactinoma a surrogate marker for lack of tumor growth?

Pituitary. 2014 Apr;17(2):97-102. doi: 10.1007/s11102-013-0473-5.

Abstract

The optimal interval for follow-up imaging of patients with prolactinomas is unclear. We wish to determine the likelihood of tumor enlargement in patients with prolactinomas who have a stable or reduced prolactin (PRL) level over time, whether or not they are treated with a dopamine agonist (DA). We identified 80 patients with prolactinomas (34 men, 46 women) who had at least two paired sets of serum PRL levels and pituitary MRIs, 3 or more months apart. Patients with hyperprolactinemia due to drug or stalk effects were excluded. The median (range) age was 45 (25-77) years. Sixty-three patients (78.8%) were treated with DA. PRL levels (ng/mL) at the initial and latest sets were 114 (0.3-15,732) and 16 (0.3-1,204), respectively. In patients with identifiable tumors, the maximum tumor diameters (mm) at the initial and latest MRI studies were 12.5 (2-60) and 12.5 (2-39) respectively, with an interval of 2.9 (0.3-9.7) years. Sixty percent of patients (n = 48) had a macroadenoma. Forty-two (52.5%) patients had either disappearance of the tumor (n = 22) or reduction (n = 20) in tumor size. In the remainder, tumor size was stable in 35 but increased in 3 patients. One of these patients, observed off therapy had a concomitant rise in PRL level. The other 2 had evidence of pituitary hemorrhage with no PRL increase. Tumor growth in prolactinoma patients with a stable or decreasing PRL level, regardless of size, is a rare event. Repetitive pituitary imaging in these patients may not be warranted.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Disease Progression
  • Dopamine Agonists / pharmacology
  • Dopamine Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / blood*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prolactin / blood*
  • Prolactinoma / blood*
  • Prolactinoma / drug therapy
  • Prolactinoma / pathology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Prolactin