Association Between Pituitary MRI Characteristics and Serum Prolactin Levels in Adult Female Patients with Hyperprolactinemia

Open Access

Abstract

Background: Hyperprolactinemia is marked by increased serum prolactin levels, primarily caused by prolactinomas, resulting in reproductive issues in women. Pituitary adenomas differ in size, with larger tumors usually exhibiting elevated prolactin levels. MRI is crucial for identifying pituitary lesions, although the link with prolactin levels is unreliable. This research assesses the relationship between pituitary MRI results and serum prolactin concentrations in adult women. Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional research took place at BIRDEM General Hospital in Dhaka from July 2024 to June 2025 involving 130 adult female patients diagnosed with hyperprolactinemia. Serum prolactin concentrations and pituitary MRI results were assessed, and information was processed using SPSS version 26.0, with statistical significance defined at p<0.05. Ethical consent and informed approval were acquired. Results: Out of 130 female patients suffering from hyperprolactinemia, the most frequent MRI finding was microadenoma (47.7%). The average serum prolactin level was 86.5 ± 57.8 ng/mL, with the highest levels observed in macroadenoma cases (182.4 ± 58.7 ng/mL). A significant positive correlation was found between adenoma size and prolactin levels (r = 0.721, p < 0.001), with severe hyperprolactinemia (>100 ng/mL) being notably linked to macroadenomas, suggesting that larger pituitary tumors correlate with elevated prolactin levels. Conclusion: The size of pituitary adenomas is significantly positively linked to serum prolactin levels, with elevated levels observed in macroadenomas, underscoring the need for MRI along with biochemical evaluation in cases of hyperprolactinemia.