Pituitary adenoma, menstrual disturbance, hirsutism, and abnormal glucose tolerance

The association of chronic anovulation and hirsutism with a pituitary adenoma and hyperprolactinemia has been described previously. The association of hirsutism, an abnormal glucose tolerance test, and hyperinsulinism has also been reported previously. Two patients are now presented with an unusual association of pituitary microadenoma, oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea, hirsutism, and an abnormal glucose tolerance test. In addition, the surprise finding about these two cases is that, following the surgical removal of the pituitary microadenoma, not only did menses resume and the prolactin level decline, but the testosterone level fell to normal female ranges, hair growth decreased, and glucose tolerance improved.