Hypersecretion of gonadotropins by a pituitary adenoma: pituitary dynamic studies and treatment with bromocriptine in...

Pituitary adenomas secreting gonadotropins are often diagnosed as nonsecreting tumors on the basis of clinical findings. We now describe a middle-aged woman who developed visual disturbances and was found to have a large infiltrating pituitary adenoma secreting large quantities of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) with moderate elevation of luteinizing hormone (LH). The patient twice underwent transsphenoidal microsurgery to partially remove the adenoma. Thereafter, a trial with bromocriptine was initiated. Normal levels of FSH and LH were observed after 6 weeks of treatment as well as improvement of visual field examination. This case illustrates the fact that some gonadotropin-secreting adenomas can be extremely sensitive to dopamine agonist adenomas can be extremely sensitive to dopamine agonist therapy.