Endocrine Abstracts

The expression of somatostatin (SS) receptors (sst) and dopamine (DA) D2 receptors (D2DR) on pituitary adenomas forms the basis for medical therapy using SS-analogues and DA-agonists. Different types of human pituitary adenomas variably express the five known sst subtypes, as well as D2DR. GH-secreting pituitary adenomas express predominantly sst2 and sst5 mRNA, prolactinomas mainly express sst5 mRNA, while clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas express sst2 and sst3. I...

After bromocriptine withdrawal recurrence rates of >90% in patients with macroprolac-tinomas and >80% in those with microprolactinomas have been reported, but follow-up studies were too short to permit definitive conclusions. No systematic data on cabergoline withdrawal are currently available nor have criteria for withdrawal been established. To investigate the success rate of cabergoline withdrawal in patients with non-tumoral hyperprolactinemia (NTH), microprolactinom...

Clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFA) are common anterior pituitary tumours, arising from a variety of pituitary cell types, but little is known of their pathogenesis. The vast majority of NFA are benign tumours; some of which may remain intrasellar, while others may exhibit expansive extrasellar growth and/or become invasive and infiltrate dura and bone. Pituitary carcinoma, defined as a tumour with subarachnoid, brain or systemic metastases is very rare. Determ...