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Acromegaly associated with gangliocytoma

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Abstract

Background

Acromegaly secondary to growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) excess is rare.

Aims/case description

We report two patients with acromegaly who were diagnosed with sellar gangliocytomas that were immunopositive for GHRH. Tumour tissue persisted after debulking surgery and in the second case this was associated with persistent growth hormone hypersecretion, successfully suppressed by a somatostatin analogue.

Conclusions

The development of functional pituitary adenomas in association with sellar gangliocytomas is poorly understood. We present a brief discussion of the possible aetiology of these unusual pituitary tumours.

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Acknowledgments

Dr Rachel Crowley is the beneficiary of an unrestricted educational grant from Novo Nordisk.

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Correspondence to R. K. Crowley.

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Crowley, R.K., al-Derazi, Y., Lynch, K. et al. Acromegaly associated with gangliocytoma. Ir J Med Sci 181, 353–355 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-009-0433-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-009-0433-2

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