[Congenital pituitary stalk interruption syndrome-Report of 6 cases]

ABSTRACT

Pituitary stalk interruption is a non-negligible cause of growth hormone [GH] deficiency. We report 6 cases [5 boys and 1 girl] with complete congenital GH deficiency. The average age was 13 years. 4 out of 6 cases [66, 6%] had corticotrophic hormone deficiency; 1 of 6 cases [16, 6%] had a hypothyroidism. 2 out of 4 children older than normal age of puberty had gonadotropin deficiency [50%]. Diabetes insipidus was not prsent and hyperprolcatinemia was present in 2 cases. 4 children had past history of fetal distress. Pituitary stalk interruption was assessed by the means of magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]. The cause of the stalk interruption syndrome is unknown. The MRI in this syndrome revealed ectopic posterior lobe location, stalk interruption and hypoplastic anterior-lobe. The outcome is progressive evolution towards panhypopituitarism and these patients require regular clinical survey and hormonal controls