Bronchial carcinoids usually present with pulmonary symptoms. Neurohumoral manifestations in the form of acromegaly and Cushing's syndrome are rarely encountered. We report a case of bronchial carcinoid with features of acromegaly due to ectopic production of growth hormone-releasing hormone. Surgical resection of the lung lesion resulted in regression of acromegalic features, normalization of growth hormone secretory dynamics, and remarkable diminution of pituitary size seen on magnetic resonance imaging.
ThornerMOFrohmanLALeongDAThominetJDownsTHellmannPExtrahypothalamic growth-hormone-releasing factor (GRF) secretion is a rare cause of acromegaly: plasma GRF levels in 177 acromegalic patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab1984;59: 846–9.
HuberRMSchopohlJLosaMWolframGThetterOPermanetterWGrowth-hormone releasing hormone in a bronchial carcinoid. Cancer1991;67: 2538–42.
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AtmannHWSchutzW. Uber ein knochenhaltiges Bronchuskarzinoid. Beitr Pathol Anat1958;120: 455–73.
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DrangeMRMelmedS. Long-acting lanreotide induces clinical and biochemical remission of acromegaly caused by disseminated growth hormone-releasing hormone-secreting carcinoid. J Clin Endocrinol Metab1998;83: 3104–9.
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Saeed uzZafar MMellingerRCFineGSzaboMFrohmanLA. Acromegaly associated with a bronchial carcinoid tumor: evidence for ectopic production of growth hormone-releasing activity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab1979;48: 66–71.
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MelmedSZielFHBraunsteinGDDownsTFrohmanLA. Medical management of acromegaly due to ectopic production of growth hormone-releasing hormone by a carcinoid tumor. J Clin Endocrinol Metab1988;67: 395–9.