Excessive growth in a child with craniopharyngioma and growth hormone deficiency

In a 5-year-old boy presenting with clumsiness and excessive growth, a large craniopharngioma was diagnosed. Biochemically, there was a deficiency of growth hormone, a hypothalamic hypothyroidism and hypocorticalism, a thyroxine binding globulin elevation, an abnormal gonadotropin secretion and a mild hyperprolactinaemia. After removal of the tumour growth stopped almost completely. Plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I was in the lower normal range. Plasma IGF-II decreased after tumour removal. It is speculated that the tumour produced a growth factor causing excessive growth.Abbreviations GH growth hormone - IGF insulin-like growth factor - TSH thyroid-stimulating hormone - SDS standard deviation score - TBG thyroxine binding globulin - LH luteinizing hormone