Persistent Hyperprolactinemia and Bilateral Galactocele in a Male Infant

Paolo A Tomasi,Giuseppe Delitala,Giuseppe Fanciulli,Tiziana Casti

doi:10.1155/2009/578610

Abstract

Galactocele is a benign breast lesion, usually occurring in nursing women. This lesion is a rare cause of breast enlargement in children. In this paper we describe the case of an infant with hyperprolactinemia (which persisted throughout 15 years of clinical observation) and bilateral galactocele. We speculate that a congenital midline defect in our patient might have impaired the normal dopaminergic inhibitory tone on pituitary lactotroph cells, thus leading to an increased prolactin secretion by the pituitary gland; this, in turn, might have favored the development of the galactocele.

Highlights

Galactocele is a rare breast cyst containing milk-like material, usually observed in lactating women
In this paper we describe the case of an infant with hyperprolactinemia and bilateral galactocele
Hyperprolactinemia is rare in children of less than 5 years; in particular, persistent isolated Prolactin (PRL) hypersecretion has never been described in infants

Summary

Introduction

Galactocele is a rare breast cyst containing milk-like material, usually observed in lactating women. In this paper we describe the case of an infant with hyperprolactinemia (which persisted throughout 15 years of clinical observation) and bilateral galactocele. We speculate that a congenital midline defect in our patient might have impaired the normal dopaminergic inhibitory tone on pituitary lactotroph cells, leading to an increased prolactin secretion by the pituitary gland; this, in turn, might have favored the development of the galactocele. Hyperprolactinemia is rare in children of less than 5 years; in particular, persistent isolated Prolactin (PRL) hypersecretion has never been described in infants.

Results

Conclusion