Intrasellar gangliocytoma containing gastrin and growth hormone-releasing hormone associated with a growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma.

A 74-year-old acromegalic found to have an intrasellar gangliocytocytoma and GH-secreting pituitary adenoma is described. The gangliocytoma contained immunoreactive gastrin and, to a lesser extent, GHRH, and the adenoma immunostained for GH. Gastrin has not been previously reported in hypothalamic gangliocytomas. Since this peptide has been demonstrated in normal hypothalamus and pituitary, and provokes GH release when administered intraventricularly, it may have caused GHRH release from the gangliocytoma by a local paracrine action and led to adenoma formation and acromegaly.