Excessive growth in a child with craniopharyngioma and growth hormone deficiency.
In a 5-year-old boy presenting with clumsiness and excessive growth, a large craniopharyngioma was diagnosed. Biochemically, there was a deficiency of growth hormone, a hypothalamic hypothyroidism and hypocorticalism, a thyroxine binding globulin elevation, an abnormal gonadotropin secretion and a mild hyperprolactinaemia. After removal of the tumour growth stopped almost completely. Plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I was in the lower normal range. Plasma IGF-II decreased after tumour removal. It is speculated that the tumour produced a growth factor causing excessive growth.
Wit
J M
JM
Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital for Children and Youth het Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Schuitema-Dijkstra
A
A
van Buul-Offers
S
S
Opmeer
F
F
Van den Brande
J L
JL
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D006728:Hormones / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000097:blood
D006133:Growth Substances; D006728:Hormones; D013002:Somatomedins; D013006:Growth Hormone