A Case of acromegaly associated with subclinical Cushing's disease

Endocr J. 2006 Oct;53(5):679-85. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.k06-031. Epub 2006 Aug 23.

Abstract

A 54-year-old man with type 2 diabetes was referred to our hospital for endocrine evaluation of acromegaly. Physical examination showed typical acromegalic features without Cushingoid features. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed the presence of a pituitary macroadenoma. Basal plasma levels of GH and insulin-like growth factor-I under fasting hyperglycemia (202 mg/dl) were markedly elevated. Plasma GH levels paradoxically increased after stimulation with TRH and LH-RH, and decreased after bromocriptine and octreotide administration. Endocrine examination of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis showed a lack of circadian rhythm of ACTH and cortisol, non-suppressibility to low-dose (1 mg), but suppressibility to high-dose (8 mg) dexamethasone, and normal response to CRH stimulation. The tumor resected by transsphenoidal surgery was histopathologically consistent with the diagnosis of eosinophilic adenoma: positive immunoreactivities of GH, PRL and ACTH were demonstrated, but negative immunoreactivities of prohormone convertase (PC) 1/3 by immunohistochemical method. After surgery, plasma GH and IGF-I levels decreased along with normalization of HPA axis. Metabolic co-morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension disappeared after removal of the pituitary tumor. This is a very rare case of GH-producing pituitary adenoma causing typical acromegaly with concomitant production of ACTH causing subclinical Cushing's disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acromegaly / blood
  • Acromegaly / complications*
  • Acromegaly / surgery
  • Adenoma / diagnosis
  • Adenoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Adenoma / surgery
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / diagnosis
  • Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / surgery
  • Human Growth Hormone / blood
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / blood
  • Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / complications*
  • Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / surgery
  • Pituitary Function Tests
  • Radiography

Substances

  • Human Growth Hormone
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Hydrocortisone