Gigantism associated with a pituitary tumour secreting growth hormone and prolactin and cured by transsphenoidal hypophysectomy.

Abstract

An 18-year old male is reported who presented with a history of a growtn spurt over the year preceding his admission. His height was above the 97th percentile, and he had incompletely developed secondary sexual characters. Pituitary evaluation demonstrated a moderately elevated level of growth hormone (hGH) not suppressible by a glucose load and not stimulable by TRH or by L-DOPA. Serum prolactin (PRL) concentration was also increased while gonadotrophin, thyroid and adrenal function were all subnormal. There was clear radiological evidence of a large pituitary tumour with suprasellar extension and transsphenoidal total hypophysectomy was performed. A mixed chromophobe and acidophilic adenoma was found and both growth hormone and prolactin were demonstrable in different cells of the tumour by the immunoperoxidase technique. Post-operatively the patient has hypopituitarism and levels of growth hormone and prolactin have remained low or undetectable after 6 months. Thus early diagnosis and surgical treatment of gigantism of this mixed hGH-PRL secreting pituitary tumour was associated with a cure, which contrasts with the unfavourable outcome of many of the patients previously reported.

• Authors: L Favre, L M Rogers, C A Cobb, D Rabin
• Journal: Acta endocrinologica (Acta Endocrinol (Copenh)) Vol. 91 Issue 2 Pg. 193-200 (Jun 1979) ISSN: 0001-5598 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 223354 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Prolactin
• Growth Hormone

Topics

• Adenoma, Acidophil (complications, metabolism, surgery)
• Adenoma, Chromophobe (complications, metabolism, surgery)
• Adolescent
• Gigantism (etiology)
• Growth Hormone (metabolism)
• Humans
• Hypophysectomy
• Male
• Pituitary Neoplasms (complications, metabolism, surgery)
• Prolactin (metabolism)