Galactorrhea as the sole presenting symptom of a posterior third ventricular epidermoid cyst

Brain tumors that are remote from the sellar and parasellar region rarely produce galactorrhea.

Galactorrhea was the sole presenting symptom in a patient with a posterior third ventricular epidermoid cyst. On investigation, her serum prolactin level was mildly elevated. After radical excision of the tumour, the spontaneous galactorrhea stopped and the serum prolactin level decreased.

Because of the clinical and biochemical response seen after surgery, we speculate that the galactorrhea was caused by the presence of the tumor. We postulate that the pressure exerted by the tumor on the diencephalic structures was probably the cause of galactorrhea in our patient.