Reversible endocrine dysfunction and pituitary stalk enlargement

J Endocrinol Invest. 1998 Feb;21(2):122-7. doi: 10.1007/BF03350326.

Abstract

We report 4 patients (3 of which were children) with diabetes insipidus and different degrees of hypopituitarism in whom a pituitary stalk enlargement was disclosed on imaging techniques, and in whom radiological and functional recovery was observed during follow-up. Pituitary substitution therapy with desmopressin, thyroxine, hydrocortisone, growth hormone and/or oral contraceptives was prescribed. During follow-up, regression of the stalk lesion was seen which was spontaneous in 2 cases, following a short course of corticosteroids in another and an empirical trial of tuberculostatic drugs in the fourth. A partial recovery of pituitary function was also observed. These cases illustrate that pituitary stalk enlargement and associated hypopituitarism may be reversible; however, this morphological and functional recovery has rarely been described in adults and has not been previously reported in children.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / therapeutic use
  • Diabetes Insipidus / complications*
  • Diabetes Insipidus / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Human Growth Hormone / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / therapeutic use
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Hypopituitarism / complications*
  • Hypopituitarism / drug therapy
  • Hypopituitarism / pathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Pituitary Gland / pathology*
  • Pituitary Gland / physiopathology*
  • Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Thyroxine / therapeutic use
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Human Growth Hormone
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin
  • Thyroxine
  • Hydrocortisone