Gigantism associated with a pituitary tumour secreting growth hormone and prolactin and cured by transsphenoidal hypophysectomy. 1979

L Favre, and L M Rogers, and C A Cobb, and D Rabin

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.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007016 Hypophysectomy Surgical removal or destruction of the hypophysis, or pituitary gland. (Dorland, 28th ed) Hypophysectomies
D008297 Male Males
D010911 Pituitary Neoplasms Neoplasms which arise from or metastasize to the PITUITARY GLAND. The majority of pituitary neoplasms are adenomas, which are divided into non-secreting and secreting forms. Hormone producing forms are further classified by the type of hormone they secrete. Pituitary adenomas may also be characterized by their staining properties (see ADENOMA, BASOPHIL; ADENOMA, ACIDOPHIL; and ADENOMA, CHROMOPHOBE). Pituitary tumors may compress adjacent structures, including the HYPOTHALAMUS, several CRANIAL NERVES, and the OPTIC CHIASM. Chiasmal compression may result in bitemporal HEMIANOPSIA. Pituitary Cancer,Cancer of Pituitary,Cancer of the Pituitary,Pituitary Adenoma,Pituitary Carcinoma,Pituitary Tumors,Adenoma, Pituitary,Adenomas, Pituitary,Cancer, Pituitary,Cancers, Pituitary,Carcinoma, Pituitary,Carcinomas, Pituitary,Neoplasm, Pituitary,Neoplasms, Pituitary,Pituitary Adenomas,Pituitary Cancers,Pituitary Carcinomas,Pituitary Neoplasm,Pituitary Tumor,Tumor, Pituitary,Tumors, Pituitary
D011388 Prolactin A lactogenic hormone secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). It is a polypeptide of approximately 23 kD. Besides its major action on lactation, in some species prolactin exerts effects on reproduction, maternal behavior, fat metabolism, immunomodulation and osmoregulation. Prolactin receptors are present in the mammary gland, hypothalamus, liver, ovary, testis, and prostate. Lactogenic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropin,PRL (Prolactin),Hormone, Pituitary Lactogenic,Hormone, Pituitary Mammotropic,Pituitary Lactogenic Hormone,Pituitary Mammotropic Hormone
D005877 Gigantism The condition of accelerated and excessive GROWTH in children or adolescents who are exposed to excess HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE before the closure of EPIPHYSES. It is usually caused by somatotroph hyperplasia or a GROWTH HORMONE-SECRETING PITUITARY ADENOMA. These patients are of abnormally tall stature, more than 3 standard deviations above normal mean height for age. Pituitary Gigantism,Gigantism, Pituitary
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000238 Adenoma, Chromophobe A benign tumor of the anterior pituitary in which the cells do not stain with acidic or basic dyes. Adenomas, Chromophobe,Chromophobe Adenoma,Chromophobe Adenomas
D000239 Adenoma, Acidophil A benign tumor, usually found in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, whose cells stain with acid dyes. Such pituitary tumors may give rise to excessive secretion of growth hormone, resulting in gigantism or acromegaly. A specific type of acidophil adenoma may give rise to nonpuerperal galactorrhea. (Dorland, 27th ed) Adenoma, Eosinophilic,Adenoma, Acidophilic,Adenoma, Eosinophil,Acidophil Adenoma,Acidophil Adenomas,Acidophilic Adenoma,Acidophilic Adenomas,Adenomas, Acidophil,Adenomas, Acidophilic,Adenomas, Eosinophil,Adenomas, Eosinophilic,Eosinophil Adenoma,Eosinophil Adenomas,Eosinophilic Adenoma,Eosinophilic Adenomas
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D013006 Growth Hormone A polypeptide that is secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). Growth hormone, also known as somatotropin, stimulates mitosis, cell differentiation and cell growth. Species-specific growth hormones have been synthesized. Growth Hormone, Recombinant,Pituitary Growth Hormone,Recombinant Growth Hormone,Somatotropin,Somatotropin, Recombinant,Growth Hormone, Pituitary,Growth Hormones Pituitary, Recombinant,Pituitary Growth Hormones, Recombinant,Recombinant Growth Hormones,Recombinant Pituitary Growth Hormones,Recombinant Somatotropins,Somatotropins, Recombinant,Growth Hormones, Recombinant,Recombinant Somatotropin

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