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Somatotropic adenoma manifested by galactorrhea without acromegaly
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|September 1, 1985
Summary
Galactorrhea, with or without amenorrhea, can be the sole presenting symptom of somatotropic adenomas in premenopausal women. Elevated growth hormone (GH) may cause galactorrhea, even with hyperprolactinemia.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Medicine
Background:
- Somatotropic adenomas, tumors of the pituitary gland, typically cause acromegaly.
- Galactorrhea and amenorrhea are common symptoms of hyperprolactinemia, often associated with different pituitary adenomas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical presentation of somatotropic adenomas in premenopausal women.
- To determine if galactorrhea can be the primary manifestation of somatotropic adenomas.
Main Methods:
- Case study analysis of eight premenopausal women with somatotropic adenomas.
- Clinical evaluation, hormonal assays (serum GH, prolactin), glucose tolerance tests, and histological/immunocytological examination of pituitary adenomas.
Main Results:
- Two of eight women presented with galactorrhea as the earliest symptom, one also with amenorrhea.
- These two patients lacked clinically evident acromegaly but had elevated basal serum GH levels and modest hyperprolactinemia.
- Histological studies revealed adenomas with somatotropic cells and some alpha-subunit- and PRL-containing cells.
Conclusions:
- Galactorrhea, alone or with amenorrhea, can be the exclusive clinical sign of a somatotropic adenoma.
- Elevated GH secretion may be responsible for galactorrhea in these cases, potentially independent of hyperprolactinemia.