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Review
. 2013 Aug;9(2):136-140.
doi: 10.17925/EE.2013.09.02.136. Epub 2013 Aug 23.

Congenital Growth Hormone Deficiency - A Review with a Focus on Neuroimaging

Sarah L Tsai  1 , Eoghan Laffan  2
Affiliations
Review

Congenital Growth Hormone Deficiency - A Review with a Focus on Neuroimaging

Sarah L Tsai et al. Eur Endocrinol. 2013 Aug.

Abstract

Growth hormone deficiency is an important cause of short stature in childhood. It is characterised by low growth velocity in childhood and is diagnosed by stimulation testing. Individuals with growth hormone deficiency may have other pituitary hormone deficits in addition to growth hormone deficiency. When multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies are present, abnormal pituitary anatomy, as visualised on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a frequent finding. The classic triad (ectopic posterior pituitary, hypoplastic or aplastic anterior pituitary and absent/thin pituitary stalk) or variants of the classic triad are commonly seen in these patients. Volumetric sequencing allows all three planes of visualisation to be reconstructed in post-processing, allowing the radiologist to more fully evaluate pituitary anatomy. The normal dimensions of the pituitary gland vary by age and precise definitions of what constitutes a hypoplastic gland are not clearly defined in the medical literature. Having an experienced neuroradiologist interpret the MRI in patients with pituitary dysfunction is very important.

Keywords: Growth hormone deficiency; empty sella; magnetic resonance studies; panhypopituitarism; pituitary.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:. Saggital T1-weighted Image of a 30-day-old Male Infant with Growth Hormone Deficiency
Note the ectopic posterior pituitary bright spot (long arrow) and hypoplastic pituitary (short arrow). Reprinted with permission from Pediatric Radiology.
Figure 2:
Figure 2:. Coronal T1-weighted Image of Child with Classic Triad – Pituitary Hypoplasia, Absent Stalk and Ectopic Posterior Pituitary (Arrow)
Figure 3:
Figure 3:. Sagittal T1 Post-gadolinium Imaging Showing Normal, Avidly Enhancing Pituitary and Stalk in this Young Girl with a Pilocytic Astrocytoma, the Cystic Component of which is Seen in the Fourth Ventricle
Figure 4:
Figure 4:. Saggital T1-weighted Image of Child with ‘Empty Sella Syndrome’ (Long Arrow) Illustrated by Dilated Third and Lateral Ventricles Due to Obstruction of Fourth Ventricle by Large Posterior Fossa Tumour (Short Arrow)
Reprinted with permission from Pediatric Radiology.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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