HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by SWANSON, J. A Articles by CHAPLER, F. K Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by SWANSON, J. A Articles by CHAPLER, F. K

Evaluation of the Pituitary

Patients With Suspected Prolactin-Producing Tumors

From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Internal Medicine, and Radiology at the University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa.

Abstract

We have reviewed our experience in the radiographic and ophthalmologic evaluation of 100 patients with symptoms suggesting the presence of a pituitary, prolactin-secreting adenoma. Twenty-seven patients had abnormal or suspicious radiographic examination of the sella turcica. Twenty-two of those had hyperprolactinemia. In only one instance was an abnormality noted on polytomography that was not seen on a conventional four-view study of the skull. Based on these findings, a four-view plain conventional radiographic assessment of the skull suffices as a screening procedure in patients with amenorrhea, galactorrhea, or both. Thin section tomography should be reserved to more thoroughly evaluate those patients with elevated serum prolactin concentrations and/or abnormal conventional radiographs. We found visual field testing to be of little value as an initial screening procedure in these patients.