Pituitary tumor 3mm and not secreting prolactine

**Vahevahe** · 10-10-2013, 10:51 PM

So i have been feeling the symptoms of low t for a while and they did a bunch of test from mri to chromosomes test which came back negative. Now i had another MRI done and there was a 3mm tumor. My prolactin levels are normal and they said its a non-functioning tumor. Can this cause low t symptoms and i have had low t for a while. Also is there a way to remove this guy noninvasive?

**bass** · 10-10-2013, 11:02 PM

I believe its relatively simple to remove, but if its benign I wouldn't worry about it. they simply go through the nose with a small suction tool and remove or burn it with laser. have they done other BW for male hormones like Testosterone total and free, E2, IGF1, DHEA, FH, FSH, etc...?

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**Vahevahe** · 10-10-2013, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by bass

I believe its relatively simple to remove, but if its benign I wouldn't worry about it. they simply go through the nose with a small suction tool and remove or burn it with laser. have they done other BW for male hormones like Testosterone total and free, E2, IGF1, DHEA, FH, FSH, etc...?

Endoscopic Endonasal Approach — Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery - YouTube

Oh ok thats good. Yes they did my testosterone total is 287 range 348-1197, testosterone free 218 range 128-430 , also E2 is 20 , IGF1 5 range 5-35 (low) fsh is low along with lh is 4(low)

**LFH40** · 10-10-2013, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Vahevahe

So i have been feeling the symptoms of low t for a while and they did a bunch of test from mri to chromosomes test which came back negative. Now i had another MRI done and there was a 3mm tumor. My prolactin levels are normal and they said its a non-functioning tumor. Can this cause low t symptoms and i have had low t for a while. Also is there a way to remove this guy noninvasive?

I have a non-functioning one too and it's 10mm. It brought my t levels down to 192 at one point. All the symptoms. They CAN operate, however I made the decision not to have surgery as there is no guarantee that your hormone levels will return. If you've got low t now, chances are the tumor killed your pituitary function already. I didn't want to risk having other issues arise from surgery and end up on trt anyways. I signed up with low testosterone .com and I have my dr appt tomorrow.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

**mockery** · 10-12-2013, 11:26 PM

arent Pituitary tumors the cause of low test when life style and drugs are not the cause?

**kelkel** · 10-12-2013, 11:37 PM

Statistically about 20% can get pit tumors. Many just don't know it. Depending on their size they are classified as either micro or macro adenomas. They can cause many different side effects from prolactin secreting to GH to TSH secreting, etc. Or simply shut down test production. I have one as well and it shut me down to a 59 and dropping T level when found.

You'll all live.

**jaxbrah** · 10-14-2013, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by Vahevahe

So i have been feeling the symptoms of low t for a while and they did a bunch of test from mri to chromosomes test which came back negative. Now i had another MRI done and there was a 3mm tumor. My prolactin levels are normal and they said its a non-functioning tumor. Can this cause low t symptoms and i have had low t for a while. Also is there a way to remove this guy noninvasive?

I also have a prolactimoma. Surgery is absolutely not required because there is a great medication called Cabergoline that will actually shrink the tumor. My T levels before cabergoline were 200. After 4 weeks of cabergoline my natural t levels were up to 420, which is my highest ever. I still elected to go on trt though for the time being. Cabergoline takes 6 months to shrink the tumor which is when my next mri is scheduled. If it has shrunken enough I will try going without trt and seeing what my natty levels are. Its promising considering I was st 420 after only a month.

Im pretty sure ive had it since I was 12 or so. I just discovered that it was the cause of my migraines.

**powerlifterty16** · 10-14-2013, 11:17 AM

I had 1 mri out of about 8 say that i had a probable 2mm microadenoma...it was a real struggle getting any dr to agree it caused my issues..none would operate....but i guess in hindsight that was good considering all the most recent mris say i dont have any tumor.

**LFH40** · 10-14-2013, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by jaxbrah

I also have a prolactimoma. Surgery is absolutely not required because there is a great medication called Cabergoline that will actually shrink the tumor. My T levels before cabergoline were 200. After 4 weeks of cabergoline my natural t levels were up to 420, which is my highest ever. I still elected to go on trt though for the time being. Cabergoline takes 6 months to shrink the tumor which is when my next mri is scheduled. If it has shrunken enough I will try going without trt and seeing what my natty levels are. Its promising considering I was st 420 after only a month.

Im pretty sure ive had it since I was 12 or so. I just discovered that it was the cause of my migraines.

Yes, cabergoline and bromocriptome are great IF you are eligible for them. If it's prolactin secreting than you're in luck, but if it's non-functioning then you can't take those because it won't work. I took bromocriptine for a prolactinoma for 15 years. My doctor said it shrunk down to the point where I didn't need the medication , however, my most recent MRI detected that it is back and NOT secreting prolactin , hence I'm not a candidate for that therapy anymore. So tomorrow I start trt to get my hormone levels back in check.

**kelkel** · 10-14-2013, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by powerlifterty16

I had 1 mri out of about 8 say that i had a probable 2mm microadenoma...it was a real struggle getting any dr to agree it caused my issues..none would operate....but i guess in hindsight that was good considering all the most recent mris say i dont have any tumor.

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**gatornate97** · 10-14-2013, 12:22 PM

Well hell!!

Are these tutors common? And are the cancerous? Just thought pituitary cancer was rare... Yikes!

Wondering if I should check into an MRI since my T was so low at so young (34) and (350 before TRT)

***LowT Mike*** · 10-14-2013, 04:58 PM

They are common. Id say about 4% of lowT guys. generally in men whos Total T is less than 200ng/dl. Most are microadenomas less than 10mm so need to operate unless you have vison problems, optic pressure. Most men should have a prolaction panel done and an MRI if your T level is less than 200ng/dl. They have a new surgery out now if you have a Macroadenoma more than 10mm. They go in through the nasal cqavity and breakup the tumor and extract. In the 90s they would remove by pulling tumor piece by piece out of the nasal cavity then also hit you with 30 treatments of Radiation treatment. Disgusting! No need for Rad therapy if benign guys.