[Analgesic effect of a somatostatin analog, SMS 201-995, on headache associated with tumor of the hypophysis].

A female is reported with a pituitary tumor secreting growth hormone which remained active and induced invalidating headache in spite of previous treatment with surgery and radiotherapy. Treatment with the sustained action somatostatin analogue, SMS 201-995, was started and headache was improved in a matter of minutes, even if normalization of hormone hypersecretion was not demonstrated. The pathophysiological mechanisms possibly implicated in the improvement are discussed, and this therapeutic option in patients with headache unresponsive to common analgesics is emphasized.