Gonadotropinoma in the menopausal period: practical guidelines

While analyzing the clinical picture of gonadotropinoma and menopause, many aspects indicate that the diagnosis of this tumor in menopausal women may be problematic because of the overlapping symptoms characteristic of this period. In differentiating these two clinical states, it should be assumed that pituitary adenomas are associated with a high secretion of FSH and disproportionally low LH as well as an uninhibited secretion of estradiol and cystic ovarian lesions. The initial diagnosis should be corroborated by the results of the magnetic resonance imaging of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis with the use of magnetic contrast agents, which has the best diagnostic power. The treatment of choice for gonadotropinoma is tumor removal accomplished by transsphenoidal approach.