July - September 2013, Volume 9, Issue 3

Chentli F, Kalafate N

Nasal Bleeding Due to Huge Prolactinomas

Acta Endo (Buc) 2013, 9 (3): 473-478
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2013.473

Prolactinomas are the largest pituitary tumours (PT) in males, but huge ones (defined arbitrarily as ≥ 8 cm in height) are exceptional. They are usually diagnosed after impotency, headaches and visual troubles. Other manifestations such as memory troubles, unconsciousness, meningitis, epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, and exophthalmos are unusual. We aimed to report two cases diagnosed after epistaxis. Case 1. A man, aged 38, suffering from chronic nasal bleeding and impotency was diagnosed with a huge prolactinoma [90x90x80 mm, PRL=3737 ng/mL (n<15)] invading the nasal cavity. Nasal biopsy confirmed PT with positivity to PRL antibodies. After dopamine agonists intake, PRL and tumour size were significantly reduced and nasal bleeding disappeared.Case 2. A male aged 29 was referred for a huge PT [PRL= 2586 ng/mL, tumour= 130x80x60 mm] diagnosed after epistaxis. Nasal endoscopy showed a bleeding greyish tumour whose immunostaining confirmed PT. Dopamine agonists stopped epistaxis after PT tumour reduction. Conclusion. Both cases suffered from epistaxis secondary to huge prolactinomas invading the nasal cavity. So, chronic nasal bleeding should be kept in mind as a possible sign of PT. Nasal biopsy should be kept in mind for diagnosis confirmation. Nasal invasion by PT can induce suppurative meningitis which is a life threatening condition, fortunately not observed in our cases.

Keywords: Epistaxis, pituitary tumours, giant prolactinomas.

Correspondence: Farida Chentli, Bab El Oued Hospital, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, 5 Boulevard Said Touati, Algiers, 16000, Algeria, E-mail: endofarida@hotmail.fr