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Prolactinomas and Pregnancy

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Pituitary Tumors in Pregnancy

Part of the book series: Endocrine Updates ((ENDO,volume 15))

Abstract

Pituitary tumors correspond to 10 to 15% of intracranial tumors and its prevalence reaches as much as 27% in autopsy studies of the population (1). These tumors may be classified as microadenomas (diameter <10 mm) and macroadenomas (>10 mm), and could be enclosed, expansive and/or invasive (2). Prolactin-secreting adenomas (prolactinomas) are the most common of the pituitary-secreting tumors, and its prevalence is estimated at 500 cases/1,000,000 inhabitants (3). The incidence of prolactinomas is four times greater in women than in men; the microadenomalmacroadenoma ratio is approximately 3:1 in women. Since hyperprolactinemia is usually associated with anovulation, and prolactinomas present a greater incidence in the 3rd and 4th decades, these tumors are an important cause of infertility. Its treatment very frequently restores the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis and it is expected to result in pregnancies. This chapter addresses the management of pregnancy in patients with prolactinomas submitted to different treatments, assessing their results and the deleterious effects on mother and fetus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroendocrine Unit, Hospital das Clinicas, University of S. Paulo Medical School, Brazil

    Nina Rosa de Castro Musolino & Marcello Delano Bronstein

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  1. Nina Rosa de Castro Musolino
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  2. Marcello Delano Bronstein
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  1. Hospital das Clinicas, University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil

    Marcello D. Bronstein

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de Castro Musolino, N.R., Bronstein, M.D. (2001). Prolactinomas and Pregnancy. In: Bronstein, M.D. (eds) Pituitary Tumors in Pregnancy. Endocrine Updates, vol 15. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1435-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1435-0_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5552-6

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