Prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma. Observations in irradiated patients

Six women with clinical, biochemical and radiologic evidence of a prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma were irradiated with 50 Gy in 5 1/2 weeks. In 3 of the 6 patients, irradiation preceding maintenance bromocriptine medication was followed by a normalization of serum prolactin levels which resulted in a normal pregnancy in 2 and reestablishment of the menstrual cycle in the third. In 5 of 6 patients serum prolactin was substantially reduced by the end of the treatment, but without reaching normal levels, although no correlation was found between the degree of this decrease and the clinical result.