Acromegaly due to GHRH-secreting large bronchial carcinoid. Complete recovery following tumor surgery

Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2002 Jun;110(4):188-92. doi: 10.1055/s-2002-32151.

Abstract

A case of acromegaly, secondary to GHRH secretion by a large bronchial carcinoid is reported. A 61-year-old woman presented with typical symptoms and signs of acromegaly for at least 10 years. She suffered from recurrent pneumonias, but repeated chest X-ray examinations failed to demonstrate the bronchial tumor. The diagnosis was confirmed by elevated GH, IGF-1 and GHRH secretion. We have shown an enlarged pituitary gland without focal lesions together with a cerebral meningioma on MRI and the presence of a bronchial carcinoid tumor. The latter was confirmed by histology carried out after bronchoscopy and tumor excision. We observed partial suppression of GH secretion following short-term oral bromocriptine administration in this patient. Surgical removal of the carcinoid tumor resulted in a complete clinical, hormonal and radiological cure of acromegaly. This case of acromegaly due to ectopic GHRH secretion by bronchial carcinoid differs from others described in the literature by an atypical large tumor size, the suppression of elevated GH secretion by oral bromocriptine and a concomitant meningioma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acromegaly / diagnosis
  • Acromegaly / etiology*
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / complications*
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / surgery
  • Carcinoid Tumor / complications*
  • Carcinoid Tumor / metabolism*
  • Carcinoid Tumor / pathology
  • Carcinoid Tumor / surgery
  • Female
  • Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / complications
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Meningioma / complications
  • Meningioma / diagnosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Pituitary Gland / pathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone