What is Prolactinoma
A prolactinoma is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that produces a hormone called prolactin. It is the most common type of pituitary tumor. Symptoms of prolactinoma are caused...
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I am 50 years old. Male. I was diagnosed a year and a half ago with prolactinoma. I had no real symptoms unless I moved my head suddenly. They took a CAT scan and then an MRI. It was a large tumor (about 60mm). After the labs came back with prolactin over 8300, they figured it was a prolactinoma. They put me on cabergoline, now 4 pills a week. My last levels were 35, a tremendous drop. My tumor shrank between the first MRI and the second, but the latest MRI shows it has grown a little. It is still a monster, over 50mm by 50mm. I have no symptoms now, and that amazes the doctors. Of course, testosterone levels are low.
Due to the prolactinoma once again growing (especially against the optic chiasm) they are going to put me through radiation therapy, 5 days a week for several weeks. They said the operation would be too difficult because of the location. (Too big for trans-sphenoidal, too close to optical chiasm). The radiation oncologist I just spoke to said that what they are hoping to attain is simply to stop it from growing any more. Not make it go away. Not shrink it. Just stop it from growing. Has anyone had experience with radiation therapy for prolactinomas? What can I expect? Did it help? Was it worth it? I have lots of questions about this, but this is my main concern for now. Posted on 06/07/09, 01:06 am |
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