How high is prolactin? Is it a pituitary tumor?

Prolactin levels 2 - 3 times higher than the upper limit of normal and associated symptoms should be highly suspected of pituitary adenomas, but they cannot be diagnosed solely by prolactin levels. Mild increases in prolactin do not necessarily indicate pituitary adenomas. Many physiological and pathological conditions can cause prolactin elevation, such as sleep, stress, exercise, nipple stimulation, pregnancy, lactation and other physiological conditions, as well as the use of certain drugs, hypothyroidism and other pathological conditions. Pituitarism is one of the common causes of significant prolactin elevation. When prolactin is 23 times higher than the normal upper limit, especially when accompanied by menstrual disorders, lactation, headache, vision loss and other symptoms, the possibility of pituitary tumor is greater. However, it still needs to be combined with imaging examination, such as head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition to prolactin levels and clinical symptoms, imaging examination is also needed to determine whether there is a space-occupying lesion in the pituitary gland. Even if pituitary abnormalities are found, they should not be diagnosed as pituitary tumors directly. Other diseases that may cause similar imaging findings should be ruled out. Patients with high prolactin levels should be thoroughly examined and followed up. Even if pituitary tumors are not found initially, they should not be taken lightly. Prolactin levels should be reviewed regularly to observe trends and pay close attention to symptoms. If prolactin continues to rise or new symptoms appear, further examination and evaluation should be carried out. There is a certain association between high prolactin and pituitary tumors, but it is not easy to draw conclusions based on prolactin values alone. For patients with high prolactin, detailed consultation, physical examination and related examinations should be carried out by doctors. Comprehensive judgment should be made to clarify the cause and formulate appropriate treatment plan.