Elevated plasma level of lipotropin revealing an occult carcinoid tumor with normal plasma adrenocorticotropin.
The increases in the level of plasma lipotropin (LPH) and in the LPH/ACTH ratio are considered diagnostic tools in ectopic ACTH syndrome. However, plasma ACTH is also elevated in this syndrome. We report a case of a small carcinoid tumor with an increase in both ACTH and LPH in plasma before surgery. Eight months after the tumoral resection, plasma LPH alone was increased again, whereas plasma ACTH and plasma and urinary cortisol remained normal in this apparently cured patient. This repeated abnormality was the only available feature that allowed successful removal of the occult tumoral residue.
Coffin
C
C
Department of Endocrinology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Côte de Nacre, 14000 Caen, France.
Lireux
B
B
Le Rochais
J P
JP
Raux-Demay
M C
MC
Girard
F
F
Galateau
F
F
Reznik
Y
Y
Mahoudeau
J
J
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D053497:Corticotropin-Like Intermediate Lobe Peptide; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000097:blood*
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D053497:Corticotropin-Like Intermediate Lobe Peptide; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D008083:beta-Lipotropin; D006854:Hydrocortisone