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Acromegaly diagnosed in a young woman presenting with headache and arthritis

Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology & Metabolism volume 2, pages 582–587 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Background A 38-year-old woman presented with severe headaches to her primary-care physician. The patient had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and had begun having headache 4 years previously. An MRI scan revealed an 11–12 mm pituitary tumor. Her physical examination was unremarkable for the classic acral or facial changes characteristic of acromegaly, and she was referred for neuroendocrine consultation for a presumed nonfunctioning adenoma.

Investigations MRI of the pituitary, and laboratory investigations that included measurement of serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and prolactin levels.

Diagnosis In view of the elevated level of IGF1 and presence of a pituitary adenoma, the patient was diagnosed with acromegaly caused by a pituitary adenoma that secretes growth hormone.

Management The patient underwent trans-sphenoidal surgery, which resulted in resolution of joint pain and headache, eradication of the tumor mass, normal IGF1 levels, and appropriate suppression of growth hormone (confirmed by oral glucose tolerance test postoperatively).

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Figure 1: The patient's preoperative and postoperative pituitary MRI scans
Figure 2: Results of immunohistochemical staining of the pituitary tumor tissue
Figure 3: Prevalence of clinical features of acromegaly at diagnosis
Figure 4: Algorithm for management of acromegaly

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School,

    Lisa B Nachtigall

  2. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Lisa B Nachtigall

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  1. Lisa B Nachtigall
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Correspondence to Lisa B Nachtigall.

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The author declares no competing financial interests.

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Nachtigall, L. Acromegaly diagnosed in a young woman presenting with headache and arthritis. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2, 582–587 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpendmet0301

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