Is medical treatment better than surgery for prolactinomas?
Medical treatment is more effective than is surgical treatment for prolactinomas. The main problem with medical treatment is that the medication has to be taken long-term; otherwise the prolactin level usually rises and symptoms return soon after stopping treatment. On the other hand, surgery involves a general anaesthetic, is often ineffective in curing large tumors, and there may be complications, such as loss of normal pituitary function. In addition, tumors may recur after surgery. However, if the surgeon is able to remove the prolactinoma completely and leave the normal pituitary tissue intact, then patients may be cured of their prolactinoma. The chances of this happening depend on the size of the prolactinoma and the skill and experience of the surgeon.
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- Is medical treatment better than surgery for prolactinomas?
