Medical therapy of gonadotropin-producing and nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas

Pituitary. 2002;5(2):89-98. doi: 10.1023/a:1022312530900.

Abstract

Clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas are one of the most common types of pituitary tumors. Unless they present with symptoms related to local mass effect, most tumors are detected incidentally when imaging studies are performed for other reasons. Although clinically nonfunctioning, most of these tumors have evidence, in vitro, of gonadotropin hormone or glycoprotein subunit production. The gonadotropins or their monomer submits rarely cause clinically identifiable effects. When these tumors present as macroadenomas, often with associated mass effect and hypopituitarism, primary therapy is neurosurgery. The role for medical therapy will be reviewed here.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenoma / metabolism*
  • Dopamine Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / analogs & derivatives
  • Gonadotropins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Somatostatin / analogs & derivatives

Substances

  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Gonadotropins
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Somatostatin