Transsphenoidal Therapeutic Puncture of a Cystic Pituitary Adenoma

Abstract

Transsphenoidal diagnostic puncture of skull base tumours has been a routine procedure in Uppsala for a decade. Bromocriptine is the treatment of choice for patients with prolactin secreting pitutiary adenomas. Here we report on a patient with a pituitary adenoma who instead developed an increase in tumour size after bromocriptine treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the tumor to be cystic. A transsphenoidal puncture was used therapeutically instead of surgery with excellent result.