Prolactinoma history and symptoms
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Faizan Sheraz, M.D. [2]
Overview
The common symptoms that the patient may experience are mainly as for hyperprolactinemia from all causes. Hyperprolactinemia can cause reduced estrogen production in women and reduced testosterone production in men. Symptoms of prolactinoma include loss of libido, headache, infertility and vision changes.
History and Symptoms
The common symptoms that the patient may experience are as for hyperprolactinemia from all causes. These include:
In women
- Abnormal milk flow from the breast in a woman who is not pregnant or nursing
- Breast tenderness
- Menstruation cessation not related to menopause
In both men and women
- Loss of libido
- Headache
- Infertility
- Vision changes
In addition, macroprolactinomas by their very size may press on surrounding structures causing headaches or loss of vision from pressure on the cross-over of the optic nerves (the Optic chiasm). Unlike women, who may observe a disruption of menstruation, men have no reliable indicator to signal a problem and so may delay going to the doctor until they have headaches or eye problems. Rare signs and symptoms of pituitary disease include:
- Cranial nerve palsies.
- Temporal lobe epilepsy.
- Hydrocephalus.
- Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea[1].