Results of surgery in 114 patients with prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas

The clinical features and prolactin levels of 114 patients, including five men, who had prolactin-secreting adenomas are presented. The rates of resolution of amenorrhea and galactorrhea following surgery were calculated. Fifteen women became pregnant following surgery. Therapeutic failure tended to occur in patients who had higher preoperative serum prolactin levels and those in whom total tumor resection was not achieved. Although clinical anomographic changes preceded elevation of prolactin values in two cases and, in one case, clinical indications and an elevated prolactin value preceded tomographic changes. The morbidity encountered with the procedure was minimal and there were no deaths.