Title:Gender Differences in Patients with Prolactinoma: Single-center
Ukrainian Experience
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Author(s): Oleksandr Voznyak*, Iaroslav Zinkevych, Andrii Lytvynenko, Nazarii Hryniv, Roman Ilyuk and Nazarii Kobyliak*
Affiliation:
- Centre of Neurosurgery, Clinical Hospital "Feofaniya", Zabolotny str, 21, Kyiv, 03143, Ukraine
- Medical Laboratory
CSD, Kyiv, 02000, Ukraine
- Department of Endocrinology, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, 01024,
Ukraine
Keywords:
Prolactinomas, dopamine agonists, prolactin, pituitary adenomas, trans-sphenoidal surgery, tumor.
Abstract:
Introduction: Prolactinomas are the most common type of pituitary gland tumors that
secrete overly prolactin. They account for approximately 60% of all hormone-secreting hypophysis
tumors.
Aim: This study aims to analyze gender differences in patients with prolactinomas who were operated
on transsphenoidal surgery and conduct a single-center retrospective analysis of patient data.
Material and Methods: This study evaluated the medical records of 109 patients (61 females and
48 males) from 2009 to 2019 at Feofaniya Clinical Hospital of the State Administration of Affairs
in Kyiv, Ukraine. The primary criterion for including patients was a Serum Prolactin (PRL) level
of over 100 ng/ml and the presence of a pituitary adenoma (PA) as observed on MRI. Additionally,
the histological examination needed to confirm the presence of Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary
Adenomas (PSPAs) without plurihormonal activity through both microscopy and immunohistochemical
(IHC) staining.
Results: Significant differences in preoperative PRL levels were not observed. However, males
had significantly larger tumor sizes and prevalence of macroadenomas. In male patients, the preoperative
PLR levels showed a weak negative correlation with age (r=-0.304, p < 0.036) and a positive
correlation with tumor size (r=0.555, p < 0.001) and cavernous sinus invasion (r=0.339, p <
0.018). In females, preoperative PRL was significantly associated only with tumor size and Knosp
grade.
Conclusion : Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas (PSPAs) are more common in women than
men and are characterized by larger and more invasive tumors with high PRL levels at diagnosis.
The PRL level and tumor size before surgery can predict early biochemical remission in both
males and females with an accuracy of 58.3% and 68.8%, respectively.
