How long is medical treatment of prolactin secreting tumors required? Why?
Lifelong treatment is usually required because prolactin levels rise, and tumors reexpand when treatment is interrupted, suggesting that the effect is mostly cytostatic.
More recent reports, however, suggest that ≈ 20% of cases may be cured after 2 to 5 years of treatment (longer time may be required for larger tumors), and some evidence suggests that dopamine agonists may have a cytolytic effect in these cases.
