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Updated: May 23, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Long-term control of a MEN1 prolactin secreting pituitary carcinoma after temozolomide treatment
Melanie Philippon1, Isabelle Morange, Marilyne Barrie
1Department of endocrinology and reference center for rare pituitary diseases, hôpital Timone, assistance publique hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille université, 13284 Marseille, France.
Abstract:
We report here a rare case of a young male patient presenting with a Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 - prolactin-secreting pituitary carcinoma, controlled long-term after temozolomide withdrawal. Initial presentation was pituitary apoplexy leading to surgery. Dopamine agonists and radiotherapy allowed control of prolactin secretion and pituitary remnant. Metastasis appeared 10 years after initial presentation, leading to the diagnosis of pituitary carcinoma. At that time, dopamine agonists were no more effective; temozolomide, an oral alkylating agent, was administered for 24 cycles, and allowed decrease of the volume of the pituitary lesion and metastases. The patient is still currently followed in our department, 3 years after temozolomide withdrawal: prolactin level and pituitary tumor volume remain controlled without any chemotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the first case of MEN1 prolactin secreting pituitary carcinoma controlled long-term after temozolomide discontinuation.
