The usefulness of cannulated prolactin test in mild hyperprolactinemia: case series and systematic review of the literature
Authors' conclusion
CPT is useful in excluding hyperprolactinemia in more than 50% of mild hyperprolactinemia patients, avoiding unnecessary imaging, overdiagnosis and treatment. More than three-quarters of patients who normalize prolactin during CPT have normal PRL0’.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with hyperprolactinemia on an initial measurement (referral prolactin, referral prolactin (rPRL)) who underwent cannulated prolactin testing (CPT), 2018–2025; 82% females; mean rPRL 59.5 ± 43.2ng/mL
- Participants
- 105 patients
- Outcome
- Prolactin normalization during CPT (PRL0’ or nadir PRL within the normal range)
Methodological detailsCatheter inserted; prolactin sampled at baseline (PRL0’), 30 min and 60 min, Literature review: PubMed and Scopus, articles published until 1 October 2025
- Catheter inserted; prolactin sampled at baseline (PRL0’), 30 min and 60 min
- Literature review: PubMed and Scopus, articles published until 1 October 2025
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Normal prolactin during CPT (case series)
Normal prolactin during CPT
62 of 105
59%
Normal PRL0’ among normalized
47
75.8%
Normalized at 30 min
10
Normalized at 60 min
5
Further pooled results
PRL0’ prediction of normalization
- AUC
- 0.905 (95% CI 0.850-0.960)
- Optimal PRL0’ cut-off
- 30.1ng/mL
Systematic review: prolactin normalization during CPT
- Patients analysed from 12 series
- 1700
- Normalized prolactin during CPT
- 913 (53.7%)
- Of these, normal at timepoint 0’
- 75.3%
Original publication
The usefulness of cannulated prolactin test in mild hyperprolactinemia: case series and systematic review of the literature. Pituitary. Published 12 January 2026. doi:10.
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