Size changes of a growth hormone- and prolactin-producing adenoma during and after sandostatin treatment

Horm Res. 1988;29(2-3):109-11. doi: 10.1159/000180982.

Abstract

A 46-year-old woman with acromegaly and marked hyperprolactinemia was treated chronically with sandostatin (50 micrograms b.i.d. up to 100 micrograms t.i.d.). Plasma growth hormone (GH) was reduced by 90% of basal values and prolactin (PRL) dropped from initially 204 to 74 ng/ml. Serial CAT scans detected a volume reduction of the pituitary adenoma of 46.7%, but discontinuation of therapy was followed by re-expansion of the tumor. Tissue collected at transsphenoidal adenomectomy was examined by immunohistology and found positive for both GH and PRL. This characteristic would explain the dual hormonal response to the specific GH inhibitor sandostatin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Adenoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenoma / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Growth Hormone / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Octreotide
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prolactin / metabolism*
  • Somatostatin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Somatostatin / therapeutic use
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Somatostatin
  • Prolactin
  • Growth Hormone
  • Octreotide