Hyperprolactinemic Galactorrhea Following Pneumonectomy for Tuberculosis Sequelae

Authors

Keywords:

hyperprolactinemia; pneumonectomy; galactorrhea; tuberculosis.

Abstract

Introduction: Hyperprolactinemia is a neuroendocrine disorder characterized by elevated serum prolactin levels, with physiological, pharmacological, or pathological etiologies. Its manifestations include galactorrhea, sexual dysfunction, and infertility.

Objective: To describe a case of hyperprolactinemia secondary to chest trauma in a patient with a history of pneumonectomy due to pulmonary tuberculosis sequelae.

Clinical case report: A 33-year-old woman with a history of pneumonectomy for pulmonary tuberculosis developed galactorrhea and hyperprolactinemia, with normal thyroid and renal function. Pituitary MRI showed no structural lesions or tumors. After ruling out common causes, a diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia secondary to chest trauma was established. Its pathophysiology was attributed to abnormal stimulation of the intercostal and upper thoracic nerves.

Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of considering a history of chest trauma in patients with hyperprolactinemia of no apparent cause, as well as the need for an interdisciplinary clinical approach for its proper diagnosis and management.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Escober J, Chavarría M, Ordoñez J, Moncada S. Hiperprolactinemia idiopática. Rev. fac. cienc. Méd. 2017; 14(1): 58-63. ID: biblio-859063

2. Solis J, Cornejo P. Estados hiperprolactinémicos. Rev Med Hered. 2006; 17(4): 234-245. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20453/rmh.v17i4.884

3. Torres E, Reyes R, Fernández-García D, Alonso G. Hiperprolactinemia. Endocrinol Nutr. 2005;52(2):59–64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1575-0922(05)70989-X

4. Katsuren E, Ishikawa S, Honda K, Saito T. Galactorrhoea and amenorrhoea due to an intradural neurinoma originating from a thoracic intercostal nerve radicle. Clinical Endocrinol. 1997;46(5):631–6. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2265.1997.1460947.x

5. Lau CS, Aw TC. The importance of macroprolactin in the diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia. Series Endo Diab Met. 2021;3(3):75. DOI: DOI: 10.54178/jsedmv3i3001

6. Cozzi R, Rosaria A, Attanasio R, Battista C, et al. Italian Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AME) and International Chapter of Clinical Endocrinology (ICCE). Position statement for clinical practice: prolactin-secreting tumors. Eur J Endocrinol. 2022 Feb 3; 186 (3): P1-P33. DOI: 10.1530/EJE-21-0977

7. Glezer A, Bronstein M. Approach to the Patient with Persistent Hyperprolactinemia and Negative Sellar Imaging. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, July 2012, 97(7):2211–2216. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2011-2976

8. Ayuk J. The patient with hyperprolactinemia. Assisted Reproduction Techniques. Wiley; 2021. p. 89–95. DOI: 10.1002/9781119622215.ch14

9. Moslehi S, Iliff J, Goudaman S. Case report: cause of hyperprolactinemia in an elderly patient. Oxford Medical Case Reports, 2022, 3, 73–74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/omcr/omac006

10. Herman V, Kalk W, De Moor N, Levin J. Serum prolactin after chest wall surgery: elevated levels after mastectomy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1981 Jan; 52(1): 148–151. DOI: 10.1210/jcem-52-1-148.

11. Wheble G, Taylor K, Potter M. Galactorrhoea of the neck following pectoralis major reconstruction of a pharyngeal defect. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2016; 99: e38–e39. DOI: doi 10.1308/rcsann.2016.0294

12. Hemli J, Uppal S, Seetharam K, Delianides J, et al. Galactorrhea Following Minimally Invasive Reoperative Mitral Valve Replacement: An Unexpected Complication. Innovations. 2020; Vol. 15(2), 177–179. DOI: 10.1177/1556984520909800

13. Walsh L, Nguyen Q, Bagrodia N. Galactorrhea after pectus excavatum repair with intercostal cryoablation. Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports. 2023. 89 (1): 102562. DOI: 10.1016/j.epsc.2022.102562

14. Van Heerden M, Mabuza D. Galactorrhoea and hyperprolactinaemia in a non-pregnant female with burns. EJIFCC. 2020 Nov 20;31(4):354–361. PMCID: PMC7745297

Published

2026-09-19

How to Cite

1.
Segura Núñez P, Monge Espinoza F, Orihuela Baldeón M, Piscoche Rodríguez CE, Paucar Baldeón FS, Riveros-Mendoza NB, et al. Hyperprolactinemic Galactorrhea Following Pneumonectomy for Tuberculosis Sequelae. Rev Cuba Med Tropical [Internet]. 2026 Sep. 19 [cited 2026 Sep. 24];78. Available from: https://revmedtropical.sld.cu/index.php/medtropical/article/view/1365

Issue

Section

Presentaciones de casos