Endocrine Abstracts

Ectopic ACTH syndrome accounts for approximately 20% of all cases of ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome. The most common causes are oat cell carcinomas, bronchial and foregut carcinoid tumors, pancreatic islet cell tumors and pheochromocytomas. Rarely, ectopic CRH-secretion occurs by peripheral tumors, especially carcinoids. Whereas the screening for hypercortisolism followed by analysis of ACTH is well established, the distinction between pituitary adenomas and ectopic so...

Acromegaly secondary to ectopic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) is rare accounting for less than 1% of cases of acromegaly. Less than 100 cases have been reported in the literature mainly as case reports, except for a nationwide French series of 21 cases. Ectopic acromegaly occurs more frequently in women who represent 2/3 of cases. Median age at diagnosis is 41 years but ranges from adolescence to elderly. GHRH secreting neuroendocrine tumors are usually well differen...

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