Pituitary stalk compression by the dorsum sellae: possible cause for late childhood onset growth disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pituitary stalk compression by the dorsum sellae and clinical or laboratory findings in short stature children.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed magnetic resonance images of the pituitary gland and pituitary stalk for 34 short stature children with growth hormone (GH) deficiency and 24 age-matched control cases. We evaluated the degree of pituitary stalk compression caused by the dorsum sellae. Body height, GH level, pituitary height and onset age of the short stature were statistically compared between cases of pituitary stalk compression with associated stalk deformity and cases without compression.


RESULTS
Compression of the pituitary stalk with associated stalk deformity was seen in nine cases within the short stature group. There were no cases observed in the control group. There were no significant differences found for body height, GH level and pituitary height between the cases of pituitary stalk compression with associated stalk deformity and cases without compression. However, a significant difference was seen in the onset age between cases with and without stalk compression.


CONCLUSIONS
Pituitary stalk compression with stalk deformity caused by the dorsum sellae was significantly correlated with late childhood onset of short stature.
Taoka
Toshiaki
T
Department of Radiology, Nara Medical University, Nara 634-8522, Japan. ttaoka@naramed-u.ac.jp
Iwasaki
Satoru
S
Okamoto
Shingo
S
Sakamoto
Masahiko
M
Nakagawa
Hiroyuki
H
Otake
Shoichiro
S
Fujioka
Masayuki
M
Hirohashi
Shinji
S
Kichikawa
Kimihiko
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D013006:Growth Hormone