Open AccessCraniopharyngioma in a patient with acromegaly due to a pituitary macroadenoma
Author(s) -
Hazem El-Bilbeisi,
Mohammad Ghannam,
Caramella F. Nimri,
Azmi T. Ahmad
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
annals of saudi medicine/annals of saudi medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.373
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 0975-4466
pISSN - 0256-4947
DOI - 10.4103/0256-4947.70581
Subject(s) - acromegaly , medicine , craniopharyngioma , pituitary adenoma , headaches , adenoma , growth hormone , pediatrics , surgery , hormone
We present the first reported case of a craniopharyngioma as a second primary tumor in a patient with acromegaly due to a growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenoma. The patient was lost for follow-up for 18 years after trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery for a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. She presented with headaches and decreased visual acuity, and showed unsuppressed GH in an oral glucose load test with high IGF-1 levels. Brain MRI showed a suprasellar cystic mass and the patient underwent surgery for cyst drainage resulting in postoperative improvement in her vision. Biopsy of the mass confirmed the diagnosis of a craniopharyngioma. We stress the need for close follow-up of patients with acromegaly with adequate control of GH and IGF-1 levels.