Hydrocephalus and amenorrhea.
A 25-year-old woman was seen for the complaint of secondary amenorrhea. Skull roentgenograms revealed a markedly enlarged sella turcica. Studies of pituitary and hypothalamic function including prolactin were normal. A pneumoencephalogram revealed dilated ventricles and a mass in the septum pellucidum and hypothalamus. Partial removal of this hypothalamic astrocytoma and placement of an interventricular shunt resulted in the return of menses. Recurrent obstruction a few months later resulted in headache, disorientation, and amenorrhea. A shunt was placed again, resulting in clearing of symptoms and a reestablishment of normal menstrual cyclicity. It appears that the occurrence of increased intracranial pressure rather than the hypothalamic tumor caused the amenorrhea.
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000150:complications; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007980:Levodopa; D010912:Pituitary-Adrenal Function Tests; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007980:Levodopa; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine