What is another name for a prolactinoma?

What is another name for a prolactinoma?

• A. Lactotroph adenoma
• B. Gonadotroph adenoma
• C. Somatotroph adenoma
• D. Corticotroph adenoma

Answer: (A)

Prolactin is produced by lactotroph cells in the anterior pituitary, so a prolactin-secreting tumor is named after that cell type: lactotroph adenoma. The term prolactinoma is the clinical name for this tumor, reflecting its hormone production. Other pituitary adenomas are named for the hormone-producing cell types: gonadotrophs (gonadotroph adenoma) make LH/FSH, somatotrophs (somatotroph adenoma) make growth hormone, and corticotrophs (corticotroph adenoma) make ACTH.

Prolactin is produced by lactotroph cells in the anterior pituitary, so a prolactin-secreting tumor is named after that cell type: lactotroph adenoma. The term prolactinoma is the clinical name for this tumor, reflecting its hormone production. Other pituitary adenomas are named for the hormone-producing cell types: gonadotrophs (gonadotroph adenoma) make LH/FSH, somatotrophs (somatotroph adenoma) make growth hormone, and corticotrophs (corticotroph adenoma) make ACTH.