Hyperprolactinemia as the first symptom of craniopharyngioma.

The endocrinological alterations related to craniopharyngiomas are usually described as panhypopituitarism. The growth failure in the prepuberal child and/or the puberal retard are the clinical symptoms usually related to it. Nevertheless, for the peculiar diencephalic control of the prolactin (PRL) pituitary secretion, different endocrinological pictures can be observed, related to the different degree of pituitary-hypothalamic compression from the craniopharyngioma. For these reasons a dynamic PRL pre- and postoperative evaluation has been performed in 4 patients operated on for craniopharyngioma. A correlation has been made between hormonal picture, size and location of the tumor, and surgical results. The value of these data in performing an early diagnosis in children with craniopharyngioma is discussed.