A patient presents reporting visual disturbances. When CT reveals ...

[jparksx]

A patient presents reporting visual disturbances. When CT reveals a pituitary tumor and lab tests reveal elevated prolactin, the diagnosis of prolactinoma is made. Which intervention is the treat-ment of choice for this condition?
 
  a. Dopaminergic agonists
  b. Calcium
  c. Insulin
  d. Radiation

Question 2

A 25-year-old male presents to his primary care provider reporting changes in facial features. CT scan reveals a mass on the anterior pituitary, and lab tests reveal severely elevated growth hor-mone (GH).
 
  Which of the following would the nurse also expect to find?
  a. Decreased IGF-1
  b. Hypotension
  c. Muscular atrophy
  d. Height increases

[IRincones]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Dopaminergic agonists (bromocriptine and cabergoline) are the treatment of choice for prolacti-nomas. Calcium is used to treat parathyroid disease. Insulin is used to treat diabetes. Radiation is not used to treat prolactionomas.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
With elevated levels of GH, there is resulting bony and soft tissue overgrowth; nerve entrapment occurs, leading to peripheral nerve damage manifested by weakness, muscular atrophy, foot drop, and sensory changes in the hands. IGF-1 increases, and there is an overgrowth of bone but not an increase in height or hypotension.

[jparksx]

Correct answers!

[IRincones]

Great! Please up vote