Acromegaly caused by a growth hormone-releasing hormone secreting carcinoid tumour of the lung: the effect of octreotide treatment.
In acromegaly, the overproduction of growth hormone is usually caused by a pituitary adenoma. We report a 74-year-old woman with acromegaly caused by ectopic overproduction of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), a rare diagnosis. The GHRH appeared to be produced by a carcinoid tumour of the lung. Treatment with monthly long-acting octreotide resulted in a reduction in the symptoms and normalisation of the insulin-like growth factor-I, which has been maintained for more than two years now. A review of literature concerning causes and treatment of ectopic GHRH-producing tumours is presented.
Department of Internal Medicine, Leeuwarden Medical Centre, the Netherlands. c.c.m.de.jager@int.umcg.nl
C M
CM
de Jager
L J M
LJ
de Heide
G
G
van den Berg
A
A
Wolthuis
W D
WD
van Schelven
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D015282:Octreotide