[Treatment of hypophyseal prolactin-secreting macroadenomas]

We investigated a group of 26 patients with prolactin-secreting pituitary macroadenomas. Seventeen underwent neurosurgical operation alone, nine were also submitted to medical therapy with bromocriptine 7.5 mg/day, immediately after the operation. Patients presented similar clinical and biological characteristics. Fourteen patients without medical therapy showed a persistent hyperprolactinemia and the tumor recurred in 8 of these 17 patients. Of the 9 patients receiving medical and surgical therapy, only 1 presented persistent hyperlactinemia and none relapsed. Our results suggest that combined sequential surgical and medical therapy may be useful in the management of patients with prolactin-secreting pituitary macroadenomas.