Long-term control of macroprolactinomas.

Hyperprolactinemia is the most prevalent hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, with prolactinomas being its main cause. Microprolactinomas (diameter < 10 mm) represent approximately 60% of the prolactin-secreting adenomas, and are far more common in women than in men, whereas macroadenomas have roughly the same prevalence in both genders. The treatment of patients harboring macroprolactinomas is highly gratifying, with more than 80% of them adequately controlled by dopamine-agonist (DA) drugs: cabergoline being the most efficacious to date. Emerging evidence points to remission of the disease after long-term DA therapy in a significant number of patients. The remaining cases, mainly those with enclosed tumors, may be treated successfully by pituitary surgery. Radiotherapy is reserved for cases with dopaminergic drug resistance not surgically cured. The development of new therapeutic approaches may turn the control of the subset of macroprolactinomas refractory to both DA and surgery into reality.