Open Access

CASE REPORT

Presentation of a functional pituitary adenoma as a significant decrease in prostate-specific antigen level in a patient followed for prostate cancer

Aaron B. Grotas, Harris M. Nagler

Department of Urology, Beth-Israel Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
Address correspondence to Dr. Aaron B. Grotas, Beth Israel Department of Urology, 10 Union Square East, Suite 3A, NY, New York 10003 USA

Canadian Journal of Urology 2006, 13(6), 3346-3347.

Abstract

The stimulatory role of testosterone in the production and release of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been well characterized. Testosterone production by the testes is dependent on a functional hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. High prolactin levels have been shown to disrupt this axis, resulting in decreases in gonadotropins and testosterone levels. We report a patient with prostate cancer and elevated PSA levels followed with “watchful waiting” for several years who experienced a precipitous decrease in PSA level over a 3 month period. The patient was found to have an asymptomatic prolactin-secreting pituitary macroadenoma.

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