Prolactinoma: a diagnosis to be taken into account in children with pituitary neoplasms

Authors:

García García E^a, Rivero Garvia M^b, Aguilar Pérez M^c, Fajardo Cascos M^d, Márquez J^e

^aUnidad de Endocrinología Pediátrica. Hospitales Universitarios Virgen del Rocío. Sevilla. España.
^bServicio de Neurocirugía. Hospitales Universitarios Virgen del Rocio. Sevilla. España.
^cServicio de Radiodiagnóstico. Hospitales Universitarios Virgen del Rocío. Sevilla. España.
^dServicio de Radiodiagnóstico. Hospitales Universitarios Virgen del Rocio. Sevilla. España.
^eServicio de Neurocirugía. Hospitales Universitarios Virgen del Rocio. Sevilla. España.

Correspondence: E García. Email: ggej@hotmail.com

Reference of this article.:

García García E, Rivero Garvia M, Aguilar Pérez M, Fajardo Cascos M, Márquez J. Prolactinoma: un diagnóstico que debe tenerse en cuenta en niños con neoplasias hipofisarias. Rev Pediatr Aten Primaria. 2009;11:607-12.

Published in Internet: 31/12/2009

Abstract:

Pituitary adenomas are rare in childhood and adolescence and half of them are prolactinomas. In this report, we present a 13-year-old boy with a sellar and suprasellar cystic lesion treated with surgery; afterwards, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations revealed a prolactinoma. Cystic macroprolactinomas are extremely rare in prepuberty, nevertheless they have been reported from the age of 9 years. The differential diagnosis with cystic craniopharyngioma is important, as treatment with dopamine-agonists may be the first choice in prolatinomas, whereas a transcranial surgery is required for a suprasellar craniopharyngioma.

Keywords: Prolactinoma. Pituitarys neoplasms. Pituitary apoplexy. Child. Adolescent.