Long-term follow-up of transsphenoidal selective adenomectomy for prolactinoma

Although transsphenoidal selective resection of prolactinoma has high cure rates and low morbidity, the frequency of late recurrence of adenoma is controversial. Long-term follow-up data were available on 29 of our patients having initial return to normal prolactin levels after microadenoma resection; in 24, prolactin levels remained normal at 50 +/- 3 months' (range, 11 to 81 months) follow-up. Five patients manifested hyperprolactinemia again after intervals of six to 16 months. In five patients with normal prolactin levels immediately after macroadenoma resection, who were available for long-term follow-up, prolactin levels remained normal in four at 41 +/- 3 months; one patient had a relapse 78 months after surgery. Testing of prolactin secretory dynamics six weeks postoperatively was not predictive of who would suffer relapse. It is not known whether these relapses are due to regrowth of tumor remnants or represent new tumor formation.