cholecalciferol and Pituitary-Neoplasms

A Japanese Black bull aged 20 years died following progressive loss of the body weight. Pathological examination disclosed multiple endocrine tumors including thyroid C cell carcinoma with metastases to the cervical lymph nodes and lung, adrenal pheochromocytoma and pituitary chromophobe adenoma in the pars distalis. The serum calcium content was as mildly low as 8.0 mg/dl at the terminal stage. The bull had daily ingested the ration containing 1.9 times the recommended calcium amount for 8 years and 120,000 units of vitamin D(3) for 5 years prior to death. The long-term dietary intake of moderately excessive calcium with vitamin D(3) might be related to the pathogenesis of the thyroid C cell carcinoma.

Topics: Adenoma; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Animals; Calcitonin; Calcium, Dietary; Carcinoma; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Cholecalciferol; Male; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia; Pheochromocytoma; Pituitary Neoplasms; Thyroid Neoplasms

A 28-year-old woman was referred to hospital with a spontaneous femoral neck fracture. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry showed severe osteoporosis without apparent cause or risk factors. The basic endocrinologic evaluation revealed hypercortisolism, and the diagnosis of Cushing's disease could be made following biochemical test and magnetic resonance imaging. A transsphenoidal resection of the pituitary gland tumor was performed and led to a cure of the disease. The patient received calcium and vitamin D substitution as well as biphosphonates.. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is the most frequent cause of secondary osteoporosis. Only few cases with occult endogenous Cushing's syndrome and osteoporosis as the main manifestation of the disease have been reported. Nevertheless, hypercortisolism should be excluded whenever osteoporosis without apparent cause is diagnosed.

Topics: ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma; Adult; Bone Density Conservation Agents; Calcium; Cholecalciferol; Combined Modality Therapy; Cushing Syndrome; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Femoral Neck Fractures; Fractures, Spontaneous; Humans; Hypophysectomy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Osteoporosis; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion; Pituitary Function Tests; Pituitary Neoplasms

Because of evidence in experimental animals that prolactin stimulates production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, we evaluated several indices of calcium metabolism in patients who had hyperprolactinemia due to functioning pituitary adenomas and in normal age-matched controls. Plasma levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in hyperprolactinemic patients were in the normal range (15 to 24 pg/ml versus 15 5o 75 pg/ml in controls). Intestinal absorption of calcium, plasma levels of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone, and serum values for calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase were similar in patients and controls. We conclude that prolactin probably has no effect on plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels or calcium metabolism in man.

Topics: Adenoma; Adult; Calcium; Cholecalciferol; Dihydroxycholecalciferols; Ergocalciferols; Female; Humans; Hydroxycholecalciferols; Intestinal Absorption; Pituitary Neoplasms; Pregnancy; Prolactin