HYPERPARATHYROIDISM IN A PATIENT WITH ACROMEGALY

Abstract

The authors present a case of hyperparathyroidism in a patient with acromegaly whom they observed for 5 yrs. The development of our knowledge of each of these conditions, and its clinical picture are briefly reviewed. The question of the relationship of the hyperparathyroidism to the acromegaly, which antedated it, is discussed. Four possibilities are considered: The coincidental existence of 2 distinct and unrelated disease entities; the occurrence of hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands similar to the hyperplasia of other organs usually seen in patients with acro-megaly, and clinical hyperfunction resulting from such hyperplasia; ademona of the parathyroid glands as part of the multiple adenomatosis of endocrine glands often found in patients with acromegaly; increased activity of the parathyroid glands secondary to the increased elaboration of a parathyrotrophic substance in the pituitary gland.