A 25-year-old female presents with amenorrhea, galactorrhea, and headaches. On examination, visual field testing shows bitemporal hemianopsia. What could be the cause, and what are the next steps?
This patient's symptoms suggest a prolactinoma, a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that overproduces prolactin. The next steps would be to measure serum prolactin levels and to perform an MRI of the pituitary gland. If a prolactinoma is confirmed, treatment options include medications to decrease prolactin production, such as cabergoline or bromocriptine, and in some cases, surgery or radiation therapy.