Thyrotropin secreting pituitary adenoma effectively treated with octreotide

Intern Med. 1998 Dec;37(12):1027-30. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.37.1027.

Abstract

We report a 65-year-old woman with thyrotropin (TSH) secreting pituitary adenoma, who was diagnosed based on the lack of inhibition of serum TSH despite an increased serum free thyroxine (T4), a low response of serum TSH to thyrotropin releasing hormone, and a pituitary tumor as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging. The pituitary adenoma was, however, inoperable due to chronic respiratory failure. The treatment with octreotide in a dose of 100 microg b.i.d. resulted in inhibition of serum TSH and free T4 to euthyroid levels and considerable shrinkage of the pituitary tumor. These effects were continued over 8 months after the start of octreotide therapy without any adverse effects. These findings add further evidence that octreotide is useful for treating inoperable TSH secreting pituitary adenoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / diagnosis
  • Adenoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenoma / metabolism
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / therapeutic use*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Octreotide / therapeutic use*
  • Pituitary Gland / pathology
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Thyrotropin / blood*
  • Thyrotropin / metabolism
  • Thyroxine / blood

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Thyrotropin
  • Thyroxine
  • Octreotide
  • Hydrocortisone