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Updated: May 6, 2026
Survivable Stereotaxic Surgery in Rodents
Published on: October 6, 2008
Surgery for Prolactinomas to Date
Michael Buchfelder1, Yining Zhao2, Sven-Martin Schlaffer2
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany, michael.buchfelder@uk-erlangen.de.
Abstract:
While in the past surgery for prolactinomas was a competitive option to medical treatment with dopamine agonists, to date the indications for operations are restricted to only a few specific situations. However, if a patient is intolerant to medical treatment or if the drugs are not sufficiently effective in terms of lowering prolactin levels or tumor shrinkage, surgery should always be considered. In microprolactinomas, operations can achieve excellent prolactin normalization rates. In tumors difficult to treat, the combination of surgical tumor resection and long-term medical treatment supports better control of the disease. The individual indications, results, techniques, and complications of operations for prolactinomas are briefly reviewed in this paper.
Insights
Surgery for prolactinomas is now reserved for specific cases, particularly when medical treatments fail or are not tolerated. Surgical resection offers excellent results for microprolactinomas and aids in managing difficult-to-treat tumors.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neurosurgery
- Oncology
Background:
- Prolactinomas, pituitary tumors producing prolactin, were historically treated with surgery.
- Medical management with dopamine agonists is now the primary treatment for most prolactinomas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current indications, outcomes, techniques, and complications of surgical interventions for prolactinomas.
- To delineate the specific situations where surgery remains a viable or necessary option.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on prolactinoma surgery.
- Analysis of surgical outcomes, including prolactin normalization and tumor shrinkage.
- Discussion of patient selection criteria and management strategies.
Main Results:
- Surgical indications for prolactinomas are now limited to specific scenarios.
- Surgery can achieve excellent prolactin normalization rates in microprolactinomas.
- Combined surgical resection and long-term medical treatment improve outcomes for complex cases.
Conclusions:
- Surgical intervention for prolactinomas is reserved for cases of medical intolerance or insufficient drug efficacy.
- For microprolactinomas, surgery can be highly effective in normalizing prolactin levels.
- A combined approach is beneficial for managing challenging prolactinoma cases.
