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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2002; 110(4): 188-192
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-32151
Case Report

© Johann Ambrosius Barth

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

M. Bolanowski 1 , J. Schopohl 5 , M. Marciniak 2 , M. Rzeszutko 3 , K. Zatonska 1 , J. Daroszewski 1 , A. Milewicz 1 , J. Malczewska 4 , R. Badowski 4
  • 1 Department of Endocrinology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
  • 2 Thoracic Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
  • 3 Pathology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
  • 4 Radiology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
  • 5 Neuroendocrinology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

received 03 August 2001 first decision 28 September 2001

accepted 06 November 2001

Publication Date:
10 June 2002 (online)

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Summary

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 untypical large tumor size, the suppression of elevated GH secretion by oral bromocriptine and a concomitant meningioma.

Key words:

Acromegaly - GHRH ectopy - Bronchial carcinoid - Meningioma

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MD, PhD Marek Bolanowski

Department of Endocrinology

Wroclaw Medical University

Pasteura 4

50-367 Wroclaw

Poland

Phone: + 48 71 3282349

Fax: + 48 71 3282349

Email: mbolan@dilnet.wroc.pl

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