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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Hyperprolactinemia is frequent in clinical endocrinology. Its commonest causes are, besides pregnancy and lactation, drugs, mainly involving the generally used psychopharmaca and the equally ubiquitously prescribed estrogens. The single most important cause is a pituitary tumor, the prolactinoma, but lesions of the hypothalamus or pituitary stalk, primary hypothyroidism, liver cirrhosis and chronic renal failure, among others, may also provoke hyperprolactinemia. The clinical features of hyperprolactinemia in women are mainly amenorrhea, or irregular menses, galactorrhea, hirsutism, infertility and loss of libido. In men loss of libido and/or impotence are the most important symptoms, accompanied by infertility. Macroadenoma, more frequently seen in men than in women, may cause tumor symptoms such as headache and ophthalmologic disorders (visual field loss). The main biochemical finding is hyperprolactinemia, which should be repeatedly checked. In general, high concentrations are mainly found in large adenomas, while microadenomas usually involve only mild hyperprolactinemia, though there are numerous exceptions. While dynamic tests of prolactin secretion have provided useful information about the pathophysiology of prolactin secretion, their use in routine clinical work is controversial and of limited value. As a routine neuroradiological examination, high resolution CT of the pituitary area is to be recommended. In all hyperprolactinemic patients with suspicion of macroadenoma, ophthalmologic evaluation of fundus and visual fields should be performed. Dopaminergic drugs such as bromocriptine rapidly reduce serum prolactin levels in hyperprolactinemic women and men with micro- or macroadenoma. With these drugs considerable tumor shrinkage is possible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Hyperprolactinemia]. 395 83

A young woman developed intermittent headaches and progressive hyperpigmentation after bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing's disease. Results of sellar polytomography were abnormal. Her plasma ACTH levels increased to 4750-7340 pg/ml and did not rise with insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Although she experienced no clinical features associated with spontaneous infarction of a pituitary tumor, plasma ACTH levels fell to 474-575 pg/ml, and hemorrhagic necrosis was found in a 5-mm chromophobe adenoma at transsphenoidal surgery. Postoperatively, ACTH levels returned to normal (51-88 pg/ml), with the rest of her anterior pituitary function remaining intact 4 yr later. Spontaneous infarction of pituitary microadenomas may be subclinical, resulting in improvement of pituitary hormone hypersecretion without impairment of other anterior pituitary hormone secretion.
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PMID:Silent pituitary apoplexy: subclinical infarction of an adrenocorticotropin-producing pituitary adenoma. 625 8

We studied the dopaminergic control of TSH secretion in a patient with hyperthyroidism due to a TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma. A 34-yr-old previously thyroidectomized woman had mild clinical hyperthyroidism and a diffuse goiter without exophthalmos. She complained of headaches and had bitemporal hemianopsia. Serum T4 and T3 by RIA were elevated, and TSH was 112 microU/ml (normal range, 1.1-7.2). The alpha-subunit to TSH molar ratio was 1.7 (normal, less than 1), as reported in other patients with tumoral TSH hypersecretion. After TRH, a marked increase in TSH occurred. There was no evidence of pituitary deficiency. Skull x-rays and computerized axial tomography revealed an intrasellar tumor with suprasellar extension. Selective transsphenoidal adenomectomy was performed, and a pituitary tumor was removed. The tumor was almost entirely composed of cells reactive with antihuman beta TSH serum by indirect immunofluorescence. A unique feature of this patient was the marked increase in TSH levels after L-dopa administration. To our knowledge, this paradoxical response has never been reported previously in such patients. Using [3H]domperidone as ligand, dopaminergic receptors were demonstrated in the membranes of the adenomatous thyrotroph cells. The reason for the paradoxical response of TSH to dopaminergic agents is not known.
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PMID:Paradoxical response of thyrotropin to L-dopa and presence of dopaminergic receptors in a thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenoma. 643 Sep 50

The authors examined 200 consecutive patients with pituitary adenomas admitted to the neuroendocrine service at the Montreal General Hospital between 1976 and 1981. The main presenting signs and symptoms were amenorrhea/impotence (70%), headache (46%), and typical acromegalic or cushingoid features (28%). Only 9% had visual field defects, 2% had optic atrophy, and 1% had ocular motility problems. A comparison of our findings with four previous studies has demonstrated an increasing incidence of reproductive system abnormalities and a decreasing incidence of visual abnormalities in patients with pituitary tumor. The reasons for this changing pattern are discussed and the role of the ophthalmologist in the care of these patients is redefined.
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PMID:Pituitary tumors and the ophthalmologist. 666 64

Twenty-three hyperprolactinemic infertile cases become pregnant after surgical treatment and/or bromocriptine administration, and 18 of them accomplished normal full-term deliveries. Serial ophthalmological examination which had been performed monthly throughout pregnancy revealed that four cases bearing pituitary adenomas developed visual disturbances which manifested themselves in the latter part of gestational period. The objective signs detected in these cases were bitemporal hemianopsia, temporal and nasal visual defects and the disappearance of central isopter. Another patient with microadenoma complained of headache at 16 weeks of gestation and it became more severe as gestation progressed. Bromocriptine (1.25 mg/day) was effective in diminishing this symptom. Although all these cases recovered from visual disturbances and headache after delivery, two of them were operated on transsphenoidally when radiological evidence of pituitary enlargement was found in the postpartum period. It is generally accepted that nearly 20% of hyperprolactinemic patients have pituitary adenomas. In view of the limited accuracy of techniques used in diagnosing pituitary tumor, it is legitimate to postulate that most hyperprolactinemic infertile patients have microadenoma to some extent. For this reason, a detailed follow up of visual field and neurological signs throughout pregnancy of hyperprolactinemic patients is important in early detection of changes in pituitary size.
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PMID:[Visual and neurological disturbances accompanying with pregnancies of hyperprolactinemic patients]. 686 25

Three young women who developed amenorrhea secondary to large, unsuspected pituitary tumors are described. They presented with acute onset of the triad of headache, nausea and vomiting, and visual abnormalities. One patient died; the other two retained some sequelae, and one had a significant hemiparesis. These devastating effects of pituitary apoplexy can be avoided in amenorrheic patients if the possibility of a pituitary tumor is considered early on. Lateral skull x-ray examinations are inexpensive an easily obtained and will usually demonstrate significant pituitary tumors. Early recognition and surgical removal of pituitary tumors carries low morbidity and mortality and will avoid an apoplectic crisis.
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PMID:Pituitary apoplexy complicating chronic secondary amenorrhea. 707 47

Three cases of the secondary empty sella syndrome were reported. Case 1. A 57-year-old female was admitted to our clinic because of recurrent visual disturbance. Fourteen years previously a pituitary adenoma was diagnosed and two courses of radiation therapy was given elsewhere, the total dosage being unknown. Pneumoencephalography revealed air collection in the sellar cavity. Exploratory craniotomy demonstrated an empty sella with downward migration of the optic nerve and chiasm. Case 2. A 40-year-old female was readmitted to our clinic for possible recurrent pituitary adenoma. Three years previously she underwent transsphenoidal surgery and postoperative radiation therapy with a tumor dose of 6,400 rad. She had headache and visual disturbance. Pneumoencephalography showed air extension into the sellar cavity. Case 3. A 50-year-old female was readmitted to our clinic because of general prostration and headache. Ten years previously she received transsphenoidal surgery and postoperative radiation therapy with a tumor dose of 6,650 rad for a pituitary adenoma. Endocrine evaluation revealed a hypopituitarism. Pneumoencephalography showed air extension into the sellar cavity. The etiology of secondary empty sella has not been clarified yet, although the primary empty sella has been considered to result from incomplete development of the diaphragma sellae. We consider that the most important factor should be present in the diaphragma itself. It is conceivable that the diaphragma sellae becomes weak due to 1) compression by the tumor, 2) mechanical injury during operation, 3) radiation effect. Then, these preceding factors might bring about herniation of the optic nerve and chiasm with the diaphragma sellae into the sellar cavity. Therefore, we propose that early diagnosis of pituitary tumor should be important, and that careful packing of the sellar floor at transsphenoidal surgery should be essential to prevent occurrence of the secondary empty sella syndrome.
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PMID:[Secondary empty sella syndrome: report of three cases and review of the literature]. 715 93

Two women evaluated for amenorrhea, galactorrhea, and hyperprolactinemia had radiographic changes of the sella turcica (localized erosion on trispiral tomography) suggestive of a pituitary tumor. Both patients experienced spontaneous regression of apparent prolactin-secreting adenomas with a marked decrease in the quantity of galactorrhea and a reduction of serum prolactin concentrations to the normal range. One patient noted a marked improvement of headaches and spontaneous menses resumed in the other patient.
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PMID:Spontaneous regression of prolactin-producing pituitary adenomas. 718 26

A case of giant intracranial aneurysm which almost completely occluded the internal carotid artery and was diagnosed angiographically by prolonged injection technique was reported. A 62-year-old house-wife was admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery of The Asahi General Hospital, complaining of headache, nausea, and left ptosis. Neurological examination revealed left IInd, IIIrd, IVth, and VIth cranial nerve palsy. Films and laminagrams of the skull demonstrated the double floor of the sella trucica. Plain CT scan showed an oval high density area without surrounding low density area in the left middle cranial fossa. A left carotid angiogram revealed almost complete occlusion of the internal carotid artery at the foramen lacerum. Good cross filling through the anterior communicating artery was seen in the right carotid angiogram. Pre-operative diagnosis was pituitary tumor which extended to the middle cranial fossa. Left fronto-temporal craniotomy was performed and the tumor was suspected to be a giant intracranial aneurysm. Post-operative carotid angiogram by prolonged injection technique also showed a blood channel in the aneurysm and a part of the aneurysm. Left carotid ligation was carried out following intracranial surgery and her symptoms were remarkably improved. Apart from left VIth cranial nerve palsy she showed no abnormal neurological findings at discharge. Usefulness of the prolonged injection technique for differential diagnosis of the parasellar tumor was stressed.
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PMID:[Giant intracranial aneurysm visualized by prolonged injection angiography--case report (author's transl)]. 742 64

Octreotide (Sandostatin) is a synthetic analog of somatostatin, an endogenous GH inhibitory peptide that has been used as an adjunct to surgery and radiotherapy in the treatment of acromegaly. When given sc in divided daily doses, it lowers serum GH to less than 5 micrograms/L in approximately 50% of cases. Data suggest that continuous infusions of somatostatin analogs may be more effective in lowering GH. We have evaluated Sandostatin-LAR, a new long-acting preparation of Sandostatin, in eight patients with acromegaly. After an initial pharmacokinetic study, patients received a minimum of 10 im injections of Sandostatin-LAR (20, 30, or 40 mg) at 28- or 42-day intervals. Serum GH levels decreased from 10.7 +/- 2.8 micrograms/L (mean +/- SE) at baseline to a nadir of 2.6 +/- 0.4 micrograms/L after the tenth injection, and to less than 5 micrograms/L in every patient. Serum insulin-like growth factor-I decreased from 927 +/- 108 ng/mL at baseline to 472 +/- 59 ng/mL at the end of the sixth injection and returned to normal (< 500 ng/mL) in seven of the eight patients. This was associated with significant improvements in headache, arthralgia, and sweating. There was no evidence of octreotide accumulation, and the drug was well tolerated. To date, no gallstones have occurred, and serial pituitary imaging has revealed no increase in the size of the initial pituitary tumor. In particular, two previously untreated patients have shown complete regression of the initial microadenoma and have serum GH values of less than 2.5 micrograms/L. Sandostatin-LAR is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with acromegaly. Undoubtedly the initial indication for Sandostatin-LAR will be in the patient who is not cured after surgery and radiotherapy, but our experience suggests that it may be used as a primary treatment in some acromegalics.
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PMID:Depot long-acting somatostatin analog (Sandostatin-LAR) is an effective treatment for acromegaly. 759 36


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