OBJECTIVETo discuss the clinical pathology and management of mixed growth hormone- and prolactin (GH-PRL) cell adenoma.

METHODEight patients (4 men and 4 women, with the mean age of 32.3 year old and duration of symptoms 12 months) underwent examination of serum endocrine and magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical manifestations included headache, physiognomy of acromegalic patient, large pudgy hands and foots, menstrual dysfunction, amenorrhea, galactorrhea, and descending vision. Patients underwent transsphenoidal microsurgery of mixed GH-PRL pituitary adenoma between 1986 and 2004.

RESULTSThe hypersecretion of GH and PRL was relieved after operation. Headache was obviously improved in all patients. In 5 cases the menstrual dysfunction and amenorrhea were recovered. In 4 cases the galactorrhea and descending vision disappeared.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of mixed GH-PRL pituitary adenoma can be made according to the results examination of serum endocrine, pathology and clinical manifestations. Its endocrine features are related to the invasion extent of the adenoma. The transsphenoidal approach is the preferred treatment for mixed GH-PRL pituitary adenoma.