Pituitary tumors and polycystic ovarian disease.

Three patients with polycystic ovarian disease and an associated pituitary tumor are described. Oligomenorrhea was present with galactorrhea in one patient, and amenorrhea was the presenting symptom in the other two. Diagnosis of the pituitary tumor was confirmed by computed tomography. Hyperprolactinemia (39.2 to 72.0 ng/ml) was present in two patients, both of whom responded promptly to the administration of bromocriptine. One nonhyperprolactinemic patient had an associated empty sella diagnosed with metrizamide cisternography. The literature of pituitary neoplasms in polycystic ovarian disease is reviewed and possible pathophysiology is discussed.