EFFECT OF HYPOPHYSECTOMY ON THE GROWTH HORMONE RESPONSE TO INSULIN-INDUCED HYPOGLYCAEMIA

Abstract

SUMMARY Plasma growth hormone (GH) levels were measured in 55 patients with advanced breast cancer, before and 3 months after pituitary ablation either by yttrium-90 implantation or by transethmoidal hypophysectomy. It was found that four of the 46 patients tested before ablation had an 'absent' GH response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. A comparison of the GH response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia after yttrium implantation and transethmoidal hypophysectomy revealed no difference between the two procedures in the degree of pituitary ablation achieved. A partial GH deficiency occurred in 30% of patients after yttrium implantation but in only 4% after transethmoidal hypophysectomy.