While prolactinomas are relatively rare, misdiagnosis of the condition is not. There will be several hundred new cases of large prolactinomas (also called “giant prolactinoma” or “macroprolactinoma”) diagnosed this year in the United States. Large prolactinomas may first present with symptoms of pressure within the head, such as headache or visual disturbances. Because a prolactinoma is a pituitary tumor that affects hormone function, both small and large prolactinomas may present with signs of hormonal imbalances such as breast enlargement, gonad shrinkage or breast milk production.
Once prolactinoma is suspected, imaging is typically done. However, imaging cannot conclusively determine whether a mass is a prolactinoma, ano