title: Endocrine and growth features in childhood craniopharyngioma: a mono-institutional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate growth and endocrine features in children with craniopharyngioma who were treated and followed up by a single institution between 1976 and 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of 32 children, 18 males and 14 females, were evaluated. The mean follow-up period was 6.3 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At presentation, the most common symptoms were headache, nausea and vomiting, visual impairment, and neurological changes. Some patients presented signs or symptoms of isolated or combined endocrine disorder (five polyuria and polydipsia, five growth failure, two precocious puberty, eight obesity or overweight). After tumour treatment, multiple pituitary hormonal deficiencies, especially growth hormone (GH) deficit (GHD) were found and required hormonal replacement therapy. Eight children grew normally without GH despite GHD. Hypothalamic involvement was observed in ten patients; obesity was frequent and was often associated with hyperinsulinism and hyperphagia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anterior and posterior pituitary deficiencies following surgery are present in all patients. The growth pattern is heterogeneous.
authors.affiliation: Auxoendocrinological Centre, Paediatric Department, University of Genoa, School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Battista
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naselli
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Queirolo
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallarotti
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Garré
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milanaccio
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D010907:Pituitary Hormones