Conservative management of pituitary prolactinomas; evidence for bromocriptine-induced regression

Thirty-six women with sustained hyperprolactinaemia, 29 showing radiological abnormality of the pituitary fossa, were managed conservatively; 28 accepted bromocriptine treatment which controlled hyperprolactinaemia in all and was associated with improvement in the radiological appearance of the pituitary in 4 cases. Two of the 8 patients who did not accept bromocriptine showed radiological extension of the pituitary lesion; one showed radiological improvement. Bromocriptine should be regarded as a drug to control the pituitary tumour, not merely one which inhibits the endocrine effects.