Diagnostic Considerations

The differential diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia includes prolactinomas and disorders that lead to loss of dopaminergic suppression of the pituitary lactotrophs, such as tumors of the pituitary, destruction of the hypothalamus, nipple or chest wall stimulation, pregnancy, or pharmacologic agents (notably risperidone and related agents).^[10]

The differential diagnosis of hypercortisolism includes corticotropinomas as well as primary adrenal tumors and ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing tumors. Exceedingly rare cases of ectopic ACTH production in childhood have been described in association with tumors, such as thymoma, Wilms tumor, adrenal rest tumor, and pancreatic neoplasm. Ectopic ACTH production is rarely present in bronchial or thymic carcinoids.

The differential diagnosis of tall stature includes the following:

Familial tall stature
Precocious puberty
Hyperthyroidism
Exogenous obesity
Cerebral gigantism (Sotos syndrome)
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
Marfan syndrome
Weaver syndrome
Fragile X syndrome
Gigantism

The differential diagnosis of growth hormone (GH) excess includes somatotropinomas and diseases in which increased secretion of growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) occurs, either from an intracranial or ectopic source, and diseases in which dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-GH axis occurs.

Several well-documented cases of intracranial gangliocytomas associated with gigantism or acromegaly are known. Ectopic GHRH-secreting tumors have included carcinoid, pancreatic islet cell, and bronchial neoplasms. Note that somatotropinomas occasionally may occur as a feature of other conditions, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS), neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, or Carney complex.

Differential Diagnoses

Workup

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Media Gallery

Pituitary macroadenoma.
A 16-year-old boy with Cushing disease.
On the left is an unaffected patient aged 12 years. On the right is the same patient aged 13 years after developing Cushing disease.

of 3

Author

Alicia Diaz-Thomas, MD, MPH Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

Alicia Diaz-Thomas, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Endocrine Society, International Society for Clinical Densitometry, Pediatric Endocrine Society, Tennessee Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Melanie Shim, MD Pediatric Endocrinologist, Mapunapuna Medical Office, Kaiser Permanente Medical Group

Melanie Shim, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Diabetes Association, Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

George P Chrousos, MD, FAAP, MACP, MACE, FRCP(London) Professor and Chair, First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Greece; UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, University of Athens, Greece

George P Chrousos, MD, FAAP, MACP, MACE, FRCP(London) is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians, Endocrine Society, Pediatric Endocrine Society, Society for Pediatric Research, American College of Endocrinology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Robert P Hoffman, MD Professor and Program Director, Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University College of Medicine; Pediatric Endocrinologist, Division of Pediatric, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Nationwide Children's Hospital

Robert P Hoffman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Pediatricians, American Diabetes Association, American Pediatric Society, Christian Medical and Dental Associations, Endocrine Society, Midwest Society for Pediatric Research, Pediatric Endocrine Society, Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Thomas A Wilson, MD Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Chief and Program Director, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, The School of Medicine at Stony Brook University Medical Center

Thomas A Wilson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Endocrine Society, Pediatric Endocrine Society, Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Robert J Ferry Jr, MD Le Bonheur Chair of Excellence in Endocrinology, Professor and Chief, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Robert J Ferry Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Diabetes Association, American Medical Association, Endocrine Society, Pediatric Endocrine Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Texas Pediatric Society

Disclosure: Eli Lilly & Co Grant/research funds Investigator; MacroGenics, Inc Grant/research funds Investigator; Ipsen, SA (formerly Tercica, Inc) Grant/research funds Investigator; NovoNordisk SA Grant/research funds Investigator; Diamyd Grant/research funds Investigator; Bristol-Myers-Squibb Grant/research funds Other; Amylin Other; Pfizer Grant/research funds Other; Takeda Grant/research funds Other

Hyperpituitarism Differential Diagnoses

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