Preoperative diagnosis of acromegaly by growth hormone-releasing factor radioimmunoassay.
Acromegaly was diagnosed in a 37-year-old woman with classical physical and biochemical findings; an enlarged sella on computed tomography suggested the presence of a pituitary macroadenoma. Radiologic evidence of a lung mass prompted radioimmunoassay of plasma growth hormone-releasing factor (7,500 pg/ml; normal less than 100 pg/ml). After resection of a bronchial carcinoid, which stained positive for growth hormone-releasing factor, circulating growth hormone-releasing factor levels normalized. Subsequently, her clinical, biochemical, and radiologic evidence for acromegaly resolved. This case represents the first reported use of the human pancreatic growth hormone-releasing factor 1-40 radioimmunoassay to preoperatively diagnose this rare etiology of acromegaly.
Endocrine Service, Wilford Hall United States Air Force Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, TX 78236.
R J
RJ
Barth
R B
RB
Constant
M W
MW
Parker
G L
GL
Mueller
K
K
Kovacs
M O
MO
Thorner
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone