Recurrent prolactinoma and meningioma following irradiation and bromocriptine treatment

Abstract

This case report describes a 45-year-old man with a massive extrasellar prolactinoma, treated initially with surgery and radiotherapy, who experienced a dramatic reduction of the bulk of his tumor but persistence and subsequent progression of an extrasellar portion while receiving long-term bromocriptine therapy, despite stable, suppressed prolactin levels. Although the residual tumor was thought to be adenomatous tissue unresponsive to bromocriptine, a meningioma was ultimately diagnosed. Because the meningioma may have been radiation-induced, clinicians are reminded to consider a second neoplasm in cases of apparent bromocriptine treatment failures, especially when prolactin levels are stable.