Endocrine Function in Children with Intrasellar and Suprasellar Tumors

Abstract

Hypothalamic-pituitary functions in eight children with intrasellar and suprasellar tumors (five craniopharyngicma, one epidermoid cyst, one germinoma, one pituitary adenoma) were studied before and after surgical treatment. Three children who received endocrine function assessment before operation showed at least one hormone deficiency. Growth hormone and gonadotropin secretion were most frequently involved. Multiple hormone deficiencies were present post- operatively in six cases. One girl developed precocious puterty three years after operation, a rare circumstance. Surgical treatment usually did not reverse preexisting endocrine abnormalities. In one girl, hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction found one month after operation normalized three years later. This suggests that timing of post- treatment endocrine functiion assessment is very important.