Master Prolactinoma with Picmonic for Physician Assistant

With Picmonic, facts become pictures. We've taken what the science shows - image mnemonics work - but we've boosted the effectiveness by building and associating memorable characters, interesting audio stories, and built-in quizzing.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Recommended Picmonics

Syndrome Of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH)

Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH) Nonpharmacologic Interventions

Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH) Pharmacologic Interventions

Acromegaly Assessment

Prolactinoma

Lactating-gnome

Picmonic

Prolactinoma is a prolactin secreting tumor of the pituitary gland. This tumor is the most common adenoma of the pituitary gland. These tumors are benign but can cause symptoms due to elevated prolactin levels in the blood or by compression of nearby structures. Prolactin is the hormone that stimulates the breast to produce breast milk. Therefore, elevated prolactin levels are usually seen during pregnancy and after childbirth. Pathologic secretion of prolactin from prolactinomas can cause galactorrhea in women although rare in men because insufficient breast tissue. Prolactin also inhibits the release of gonadotropin releasing hormone. Normally, GnRH stimulates release of FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary, which plays an important role in the synthesis of sex hormones. Increased prolactin can therefore cause decreased levels of sex hormone in men and women, leading to impotence and amenorrhea, respectively. Enlargement of the tumor can lead to compression of the optic chiasm resulting in bitemporal hemianopia. Dopamine physiologically suppresses prolactin secretion and is used in the treatment of prolactinomas.

7 KEY FACTS

This tumor is the most common adenoma of the pituitary gland.

Prolactin is the hormone that stimulates the breast to produce breast milk. Therefore, elevated prolactin levels are usually seen during pregnancy and after childbirth. Pathologic secretion of prolactin from prolactinomas can cause galactorrhea in women although rare in men because insufficient breast tissue.

Prolactin physiologically inhibits the release of gonadotropin releasing hormone. Normally, GnRH stimulates release of FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary, which plays an important role in the synthesis of sex hormones.

Impotence is defined as inability to achieve or maintain an erection and is caused by decreased testosterone levels in men caused by prolactin inhibiting the release of gonadotropin releasing hormone.

Inhibition of gonadotropin releasing hormone causes decreased release of FSH and LH, causing decreased levels of sex hormones. This often presents with amenorrhea, which is lack of menstrual cycle in women of reproductive age.

Bitemporal hemianopia is characterized by partial blindness where vision is missing in the outer half of the right and left visual field caused by compression of the optic chiasm. Patients commonly complain of decreased peripheral vision and difficulty seeing cars to the right and left during driving.

Dopamine physiologically causes suppression of prolactin secretion and is used as treatment of prolactinomas.

DOWNLOAD PDF