The invasive pituitary adenoma. A prolactin-producing tumor.

Invasive pituitary adenoma was diagnosed by means of a transnasal aspiration biopsy method in 11 patients with extensive destruction of bone in the sellar region. In most cases the initial symptoms were decrease of libido and potency or amenorrhea-galactorrhea. Later, chiasmatic compression developed in six patients, ocular motor signs in two, and epilepsy in two. Most of the patients had symptoms for many years; in two, the tumor was discovered by chance. They all had very high serum-prolactin values. The patients were treated with irradiation, and the prognosis seems to be relatively favorable.