Untreated Giant Macroprolactinoma with Chronic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: An Unusual Complication

Macroprolactinoma has the potential to cause base of skull erosion and often extends into the sphenoid sinus. Rapid shrinkage of this invasive tumor following dopamine agonist therapy has been postulated to cause unplugging of the eroded area, leading to cerebrospinal fluid leakage. To the best of o...

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Main Authors: Mohamad Nazrulhisham Mad Naser, Nor Azizah Aziz, Noor Khairiah A. Karim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Endocrinology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/4825357
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author Mohamad Nazrulhisham Mad Naser
Nor Azizah Aziz
Noor Khairiah A. Karim
author_facet Mohamad Nazrulhisham Mad Naser
Nor Azizah Aziz
Noor Khairiah A. Karim
author_sort Mohamad Nazrulhisham Mad Naser
collection DOAJ
description Macroprolactinoma has the potential to cause base of skull erosion and often extends into the sphenoid sinus. Rapid shrinkage of this invasive tumor following dopamine agonist therapy has been postulated to cause unplugging of the eroded area, leading to cerebrospinal fluid leakage. To the best of our knowledge, the occurrence of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak in treatment-naive prolactinomas is very rare, the majority of which involve undiagnosed macroprolactinomas. We describe here a lady presented late with giant macroprolactinoma, complicated by cerebrospinal fluid leakage. This case raised the dilemma in the management pertaining to the role of either pharmacotherapy or surgical intervention, or combination of both. As she strictly refused surgery, she was treated with bromocriptine which was later changed to cabergoline. On follow-up, there was cessation of cerebrospinal fluid leak, marked reduction of serum prolactin level, and imaging evidence of tumor shrinkage. The majority of patients with medically induced cerebrospinal fluid leakage will require surgical procedures to overcome this complication; however, there are isolated cases of leakage resolution on continuing dopamine agonist therapy while awaiting surgery. The use of dopamine agonist does not necessarily cause worsening of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and instead may produce spontaneous resolution as in this case.
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spelling doaj-art-6587c2bf4f7b4b77a7d27b9e5736e11b2025-08-20T03:34:17ZengWileyCase Reports in Endocrinology2090-65012090-651X2019-01-01201910.1155/2019/48253574825357Untreated Giant Macroprolactinoma with Chronic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: An Unusual ComplicationMohamad Nazrulhisham Mad Naser0Nor Azizah Aziz1Noor Khairiah A. Karim2Department of Medicine, Hospital Pulau Pinang, Jalan Residensi, 10990 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, MalaysiaEndocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine, Hospital Pulau Pinang, Jalan Residensi, 10990 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, MalaysiaRegenerative Medicine Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200 Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, MalaysiaMacroprolactinoma has the potential to cause base of skull erosion and often extends into the sphenoid sinus. Rapid shrinkage of this invasive tumor following dopamine agonist therapy has been postulated to cause unplugging of the eroded area, leading to cerebrospinal fluid leakage. To the best of our knowledge, the occurrence of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak in treatment-naive prolactinomas is very rare, the majority of which involve undiagnosed macroprolactinomas. We describe here a lady presented late with giant macroprolactinoma, complicated by cerebrospinal fluid leakage. This case raised the dilemma in the management pertaining to the role of either pharmacotherapy or surgical intervention, or combination of both. As she strictly refused surgery, she was treated with bromocriptine which was later changed to cabergoline. On follow-up, there was cessation of cerebrospinal fluid leak, marked reduction of serum prolactin level, and imaging evidence of tumor shrinkage. The majority of patients with medically induced cerebrospinal fluid leakage will require surgical procedures to overcome this complication; however, there are isolated cases of leakage resolution on continuing dopamine agonist therapy while awaiting surgery. The use of dopamine agonist does not necessarily cause worsening of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and instead may produce spontaneous resolution as in this case.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/4825357
spellingShingle Mohamad Nazrulhisham Mad Naser
Nor Azizah Aziz
Noor Khairiah A. Karim
Untreated Giant Macroprolactinoma with Chronic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: An Unusual Complication
Case Reports in Endocrinology
title Untreated Giant Macroprolactinoma with Chronic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: An Unusual Complication
title_full Untreated Giant Macroprolactinoma with Chronic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: An Unusual Complication
title_fullStr Untreated Giant Macroprolactinoma with Chronic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: An Unusual Complication
title_full_unstemmed Untreated Giant Macroprolactinoma with Chronic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: An Unusual Complication
title_short Untreated Giant Macroprolactinoma with Chronic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: An Unusual Complication
title_sort untreated giant macroprolactinoma with chronic cerebrospinal fluid leakage an unusual complication
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/4825357
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AT norazizahaziz untreatedgiantmacroprolactinomawithchroniccerebrospinalfluidleakageanunusualcomplication
AT noorkhairiahakarim untreatedgiantmacroprolactinomawithchroniccerebrospinalfluidleakageanunusualcomplication