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Pre- and postoperative evaluation of hypothalamo-pituitary function in children with craniopharyngiomas

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Summary

Pre- and postoperative evaluation of hypothalamic-pituitary function was performed in six children, aged 5.5 to 13.3 years with craniopharyngiomas. Before surgery growth hormone deficiency (GHD) was documented in four, hypothalamic hypothyroidism in three, and secondary ACTH-deficiency and hyperprolactinaemia in one patient. Diabetes insipidus was absent in all patients. After neurosurgical treatment GHD was present in all, hypothyroidism in five, ACTH-deficiency in three, hyperprolactinaemia in three, and diabetes insipidus in four children. The study shows that all endocrine functions tested may be defective even before surgery, although diabetes insipidus seems to be a rare preoperative complaint. Surgical intervention, however, often leads to additional endocrine disorders. From the data presented here one may suggest that TRH stimulation tests, evaluation of serum prolactin, and lysin-vasopressin stimulation tests are the most useful investigations to distinguish between hypothalamic and primary pituitary disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Federal Republic of Germany

    W. Andler, K. Roosen & H. E. Clar

  2. Clinic of Neurosurgery, University of Essen, Federal Republic of Germany

    W. Andler, K. Roosen & H. E. Clar

Authors
  1. W. Andler
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  2. K. Roosen
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  3. H. E. Clar
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Additional information

Acknowledgements: We wish to thank Miss U. Erwig and Miss U. Moos for excellent technical assistance.

Supported in part by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Grant 91/2.

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Andler, W., Roosen, K. & Clar, H.E. Pre- and postoperative evaluation of hypothalamo-pituitary function in children with craniopharyngiomas. Acta neurochir 45, 287–299 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01769142

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