title: MRI finding of simultaneous coexistence of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma with intracranial meningioma and carotid artery aneurysms: report of a case.
abstract: Coexistence of pituitary adenoma, intracranial meningioma and cerebral aneurysm has never been described. We report on a patient with GH-secreting pituitary macroadenoma associated with a right frontal meningioma and with two intracavernous asymptomatic aneurisms. A 61-year-old woman was referred to our Endocrine Unit 13 years after a right frontal craniotomy for a pituitary tumour. Endocrine investigation showed high levels of IGF-1 (560 ng/ml) and increased basal serum GH (56 ng/ml) levels, not suppressed after OGTT. MRI showed persistence of a homogeneously enhancing intra- and suprasellar lesion, compressing the visual pathways, with bilateral intracavernous invasion and simultaneous coexistence of a right intracavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm in direct contact with the pituitary tumour. Somatostatin analog treatment normalized GH and IGF-1 levels. Eight months later, the patient underwent a balloon ICA occlusion with disappearance of the right ICA aneurysm. One year later, a new MRI confirmed the presence of the pituitary mass showing also a right intracranial frontal meningioma and a new ICA aneurysm on the left side. Previous studies have suggested that prolonged GH hypersecretion could play a role in the genesis of intracranial aneurysms, inducing atherosclerotic and/or degenerative modification of the arterial walls. Other aetiological factors include a mechanical effect due to a direct contact between adenoma and aneurysm. Coexistence of pituitary adenoma and intracranial meningioma is a rare event, but also for this association it has been suggested that GH or other growth factors could play a role in appearance or in growth of meningioma. In our case, meningioma appeared and grew, despite the effective treatment of acromegaly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, Unit of Endocrinology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. curto.loren@libero.it
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Curto
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Squadrito
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Almoto
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salpietro
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.forename: Fiorella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trimarchi
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cannavo
mesh_terms: D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D005260:Female; D049912:Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D019382:Human Growth Hormone