Decreased pituitary gland height after radiation treatment to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis evaluated by MR.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate treatment-related changes in pituitary gland morphology after childhood cancer and to compare these findings with growth data.


METHODS
Forty-three survivors of childhood cancer were evaluated by cranial MR imaging. Twenty-nine of the patients had received radiation therapy to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis with doses of 10 to 46 Gy. The height of the pituitary gland was measured from midline sagittal images and compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Pituitary gland heights were compared with body height standard deviation scores in patients.


RESULTS
The patients who had received radiation therapy to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis had significantly smaller pituitary glands than patients in the nonirradiated group or their age- and sex-matched controls (mean, 3.5 mm versus 5.9 and 5.8 mm, respectively). They were also significantly shorter than patients in the nonirradiated group.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiation therapy to the hypothalamic-pituitary area may lead to poor growth of the pituitary gland and short stature.
Pääkkö
E
E
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Central Hospital, Finland.
Talvensaari
K
K
Pyhtinen
J
J
Lanning
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height / Q000528:radiation effects; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000528:radiation effects; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects