Difficult venepuncture--it was all in the head!

AIM: To emphasise the importance of careful observations and demonstrate that significant conditions may, on occasion, be detected during blood donation.

BACKGROUND

Venepunctures, the bread and butter of blood donor services, can be difficult procedures. We describe an unusual presentation of a relatively rare disease detected during routine blood donations because of difficult venepunctures.

METHODS

Case report.

RESULTS

A growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma was diagnosed, and successfully treated, following the initial observation of hard-to-puncture skin during blood donations.

CONCLUSIONS

Seemingly trivial abnormalities may prove clinically important. One presentation of acromegaly is hard-to-puncture skin.