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First demonstration of the effectiveness of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with 111In-DTPA-octreotide in a giant PRL-secreting pituitary adenoma resistant to conventional treatment

Pituitary volume 15, pages 57–60 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

In prolactin-secreting giant adenomas, cabergoline treatment is the first line approach. Surgery and/or radiotherapy are indicated when the tumour is resistant to medical treatment and continues growing, causing visual field impairment. Data concerning other therapeutic approach are scanty. Although PRL-secreting tumours may express somatostatin receptors type 2, 3 and 5, somatostatin analogs treatment is generally ineffective and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) has never been reported. A 58 year-old woman complaining of severe neurological symptoms caused by a giant prolactinoma, relapsing after surgery and not-responding to dopamine-agonists and octreotide LAR treatment, underwent four cycles of PRRT with 111-Indium-DTPA-octreotide with remarkable tumour shrinkage and a significant improvement in clinical conditions. No side effects were reported. This is the first report on the effectiveness and safety of PRRT with radio-labelled somatostatin analogs in a patient with aggressive giant prolactinoma resistant to conventional treatment.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiological Sciences, Unit of Nuclear Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    S. Baldari, A. Herberg & V. Militano

  2. Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, Section of Endocrinology, University of Messina, 98125, Messina, Italy

    F. Ferraù, F. Trimarchi & S. Cannavò

  3. Department of Neurological Sciences, Unit of Neurosurgery, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    C. Alafaci & F. M. Salpietro

  4. Department of Radiological Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    F. Granata

Authors
  1. S. Baldari
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  2. F. Ferraù
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  3. C. Alafaci
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  4. A. Herberg
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  5. F. Granata
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  6. V. Militano
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  7. F. M. Salpietro
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  8. F. Trimarchi
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  9. S. Cannavò
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Ferraù.

Additional information

S. Baldari, F. Ferraù, and C. Alafaci contributed equally to the paper.

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Baldari, S., Ferraù, F., Alafaci, C. et al. First demonstration of the effectiveness of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with 111In-DTPA-octreotide in a giant PRL-secreting pituitary adenoma resistant to conventional treatment. Pituitary 15, 57–60 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-011-0373-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-011-0373-5

Keywords

  • Giant prolactinoma
  • PRL-secreting pituitary adenoma
  • Cabergoline resistance
  • Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy
  • 111Indium-DTPA-octreotide