Long action somatostatin analogues in patients with TSH-secreted pituitary adenomas: treatment experience

Abstract

Thyrotoxicosis, which characteristics are increased excitability, emotional lability, tachycardia episodes, increasing of free fractions of tetraiodothyronine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) is one of the most common endocrinological syndromes. However, during the interpretation of thyroid status it is very important to take into account the possibility that a patient has TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Timely diagnosis of TSH-secreting adenomas plays prominent role in guiding the treatment course since it is associated with an improvement of long-term prognosis and an increase of the patient’s total life expectancy. Needed to underline that in some patients with TSH-secreting adenomas manifestations of the other pituitary hormones hypersecretion (first of all — somatotropin and prolactin) come to the fore, that lead to the development of acromegaly and hyperprolactinemia accordingly. Our work basing on two clinical cases presents main principles of diagnosis and specific clinical manifestations of TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas and demonstrates efficacy of somatostatin analogues in the treatment of this pathology.