The epidemiology of prolactinomas

Pituitary. 2005;8(1):3-6. doi: 10.1007/s11102-005-5079-0.

Abstract

Prolactin-secreting tumors (prolactinomas), the most frequently occurring pituitary tumor, have a frequency that varies with age and sex. They occur most frequently in females aged 20 to 50 years old, at which time the female-to-male ratio is approximately 10:1. In the pediatric-adolescent age group, prolactinomas have a prevalence of 100/million population, and account for less than 2% of all intracranial tumors. Prolactinomas occur in approximately 30% of patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and in this setting, they may be more aggressive than their sporadic counterparts. Patients with Carney complex or McCune-Albright syndrome may exhibit hyperprolactinemia due to a pituitary tumor derived from somatomammotropic cells that secrete both growth hormone and prolactin. Few familial cases of prolactinoma unrelated to MEN-1 are reported in literature.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Fibrous Dysplasia, Polyostotic / complications
  • Fibrous Dysplasia, Polyostotic / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Hyperprolactinemia / complications
  • Hyperprolactinemia / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / complications
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / epidemiology
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / genetics
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / complications
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prevalence
  • Prolactinoma / complications
  • Prolactinoma / epidemiology*
  • Prolactinoma / genetics
  • Sex Factors