Serum growth hormone levels and size of pituitary tumour in untreated acromegaly.
Serum levels of growth hormone were measured in 84 untreated acromegalic patients. The range of mean level during a glucose tolerance test was 8 to 1,860 ng./ml. and was lognormally distributed. Mean level was reproducible and correlated moderately well with maximum sellar area on lateral tomography. The hormone level was more responsive to oral glucose and insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in patients with smaller tumours. Attention is drawn to limitations of plain radiographs in assessing the size of a pituitary tumour. Suprasellar tumour extensions may be present in patients without visual field defects.
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011011:Pneumoencephalography; D014054:Tomography; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications; D014794:Visual Fields
D007328:Insulin; D013006:Growth Hormone