Growth hormone-, alpha-subunit and thyrotrophin-cosecreting pituitary adenoma in familial setting of pituitary tumour

Acta Endocrinol (Copenh). 1993 Dec;129(6):516-8. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.1290516.

Abstract

A patient with acromegaly and hyperthyroidism due to a growth hormone-, thyrotrophin- and alpha-subunit-secreting pituitary adenoma is described. His decreased father had suffered from a pituitary tumour, and was likely to have had acromegaly as well. Plasma growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I concentrations were elevated, with levels between 10 and 20 micrograms/l and 4.4 and 7.3 kU/l, respectively. In spite of hyperthyroidism (free thyroxine, 45 pmol/l; free triiodothyronine, 24 pmol/l), plasma thyrotrophin remained at 2.8 mU/l without any response to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone and could not be suppressed with exogenous administration of triiodothyronine. Plasma alpha-subunits were raised to 3.3-3.7 U/l (normal 0.4-1.1 U/l). Pathological examination of the surgically removed tumour showed a pituitary adenoma with the immunohistochemical presence of growth hormone, thyrotrophin, prolactin and alpha-subunit. This is the first report of a growth hormone-, thyrotrophin- and alpha-subunit-producing pituitary adenoma, which occurred in a familial setting.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / genetics*
  • Adenoma / metabolism*
  • Adenoma / surgery
  • Adult
  • Growth Hormone / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Records
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / surgery
  • Prolactin / metabolism
  • Thyroid Hormones / blood
  • Thyrotropin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Thyroid Hormones
  • Prolactin
  • Thyrotropin
  • Growth Hormone