[Post-traumatic hypopituitarism]

Abstract

Background: Post-trauma hypopituitarism is a rare disease, accounting for only 3% of all cases of hypopituitarism reported in the literature.

Case report: A 56-year old woman developed central diabetes insipidus immediately after severe cranio-facial trauma. Four years later, she suffered severe asthenia and hypoglycemia faintness. The diagnosis of isolated corticotrope insufficiency was retained. Magnetic resonance imaging evidenced an intrasellar arachnoidoceae with extinction of the posterior pituitary gland's spontaneous hypersignal.

Discussion: Most cases of post-trauma hypopituitarism occur after high-energy head trauma. Hypopituitarism exceptionally involves only one hormone, particularly growth hormone. The pathogenesis involves hypothalamic failure more often than pituitary gland failure.