Radiology, Vol 143, 451-455, Copyright © 1982 by Radiological Society of North America
Computed tomographic demonstration of the effects of bromocriptine on pituitary microadenoma size
JF Bonneville, D Poulignot, F Cattin, M Couturier, E Mollet and JL Dietemann
A group of 17 strictly intrasellar prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas
between 2 and 9 mm in size was examined by computed tomography before and
after bromocriptine therapy of 3 months to 1 year duration. These findings
were compared with clinical and biological data. Bromocriptine therapy was
effective clinically and biologically in 14 of the 17 cases. Of the 15
intrasellar adenomas in nonpregnant patients treated with bromocriptine,
six disappeared completely with normalization of the pituitary appearance,
five decreased approximately 50% in volume (three showed an increase in
density, two a decrease), and four remained unchanged in size (two showed
increased density, two showed very low densities).
