CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2012; 22(03): 182-185
DOI: 10.4103/0971-3026.107179
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Pituitary stalk transection syndrome: Comparison of clinico-radiological features in adults and children with review of literature

Chinmay Kulkarni
Department of Radiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Cochin, Kerala
,
Srikanth Moorthy
Department of Radiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Cochin, Kerala
,
Sreekumar Pullara
Department of Radiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Cochin, Kerala
,
R Rajeshkannan
Department of Radiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Cochin, Kerala
,
Ambika G Unnikrishnan
Department of Radiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Cochin, Kerala
› Author Affiliations
Source of Support: Nill.

Abstract

Hypo-pituitarism results from impaired production of one or more of anterior pituitary trophic hormones. A rare cause of hypo-pituitarism is pituitary stalk transection syndrome. The MRI features of this condition in children and its association with hormonal deficiencies have been reported earlier. Reports on adults with this disorder are scarce, with only one small case series published in the recent literature. We studied the hormonal deficiency pattern and MRI findings of 12 patients with pituitary stalk transection syndrome who presented to our department between 2004 and 2011. Six patients were children and six were adults (≥18 years). This article compares the adult clinico-radiological phenotype of pituitary transection syndrome with the pediatric group of patients with same condition.



Publication History

Article published online:
04 October 2021

© 2012. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India

 
  • References

  • 1 Melmed S, Jameson JL. Disorders of the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus. In: Lango DL, editor. Harrison′s Principles of Internal Medicine. 18th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishers; 2012. p. 2876-902.
  • 2 Fujisawa WM, Kikuchi K, Nishimura K, Togashi K, Itoh K, Noma S, et al. Transaction of pituitary stalk: Development of an ectopic posterior lobe assessed with MR imaging. Radiology 1987;166:487-9.
  • 3 Kelly WM, Kucharczyk W, Kuharczyk J, Kjos B, Peck WW, Norman D, et al. Posterior pituitary ectopia: An MR feature of pituitary dwarfism. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1988;9:453-60.
  • 4 Kikuchi K, Fujisawa I, Momoi T, Yamanaka C, Kaji M, Nakano Y, et al. Hypothalamic pituitary function in growth hormone deficient patients with pituitary stalk transaction. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1988;67:817-23.
  • 5 Ioachimescu AG, Hamrahian AH, Stevens M, Zimmerman RS. The pituitary transaction syndrome: Multifaceted presentation in adulthood. Pituitary 2012;15:405-11.
  • 6 Argyropoulou M, Perigram F, Brauner R, Brunelle F. Magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency. J Pediatr 1992;12:886-91.
  • 7 Cacciari E, Zucchini S, Carla G, Pirazzoli P, Cicognini A, Mandini M, et al. Endocrine function and morphologic findings in patients with disorders of hypothalamo pituitary area: A study with magnetic resonance. Arch Dis Child 1990;65:1199-202.
  • 8 Simon D, Hadjiathanasiou C, Czernichow P, Leger J. Phenotypic variability in children with growth hormone deficiency associated with posterior pituitary ectopia. Clin Endocrinol 2006;64:416-22.
  • 9 Turton JP, Mehta A, Raza J, Woods KS, Tiulpakov A, Cassar J, et al. Mutations within the transcription factor PROP 1 are rare in cohort of patients with sporadic combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD). Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2005;63:10-8.
  • 10 Truilzi F, Scotti G, Di Natale B, Pellini C, Lukezic M, Swgnamiglio M, et al. Evidence of congenital midline anomaly in pituitary dwarfs: A magnetic resonance imaging study in 101 patients. Pediatrics 1994;93:409-16.
  • 11 Abrahams J, Trefelner E, Boulware AS. Idiopathic growth hormone deficiency; MR findings in 35 patients. Am J Radiol 1991;12:155-60.
  • 12 Ochi M, Morikawa M, Yoshimoto M, Kinoshita E, Hayashi K. Growth retardation due to idiopathic growth hormone deficiencies: MR findings in 24 patients. Pediatr Radiol 1992:22:477-80.
  • 13 Kornreich L, Horev G, Lazar L, Schwarz M, Sulkes J, Pertzelan A. MR findings in growth hormone deficiency: Correlation with severity of hypopituitarism. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1998;19:1495-9.
  • 14 Chen S, Leger J, Garel C. Growth hormone deficiency with ectopic neurohypophysis: Anatomical variations and relationship between the visibility of the pituitary stalk asserted by magnetic resonance imaging and anterior pituitary function. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999;84:2408-13.
  • 15 Maghnie M, Genovese E, Villa A, Spagnolo L, Campan R, Severi F. Dynamic MRI in the congenital agenesis of neural pituitary stalk syndrome: The role of the vascular pituitary stalk in predicting residual anterior pituitary function. Clin Endocrinol 1996;45:281-90.
  • 16 Genovese G, Maghnie M, Beluffi G, Villa A, Sammarchi L, Severi F, et al. Hypothalamic-pituitary vascularization in the pituitary stalk transection syndrome: Is the pituitary stalk really transected? Pediatr Radiol 1997;24:48-53.
  • 17 Maghnie M, Triulzi F, Larizza D, Preti P, Priora C, Scotti G, et al. Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction in growth hormone deficient patients with pituitary abnormalities. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1991;73:79-83.
  • 18 Bozzola M, Adamsbaum C, Biscaldi I, Zecca M, Cisternino M, Genovese E, et al. Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and prognosis of growth hormone deficiency. Clin Endocrinol 1996;45:21-6.
  • 19 Shizume K, Harada Y, Ibavashi Y. Survey studies on pituitary disease in Japan. Endocrinol Jpn 1977;24:139-46.
  • 20 Despert F, Guenault I, Bricaud P, Abury JC. [Hypopituitarism caused by pituitary transection syndrome. Pathogenic hypotheses apropos of 7 cases]. Pediatre 1993;48:639-44.
  • 21 Maghnie M, Larizza D, Triulzi F, Sampoalo P, Scotti G, Severi F. Hypopituitarism and stalk agenesis: A congenital syndrome worsened by breech delivery? Horm Res 1991;35:104-8.