title: Pituitary gland size is a useful marker in diagnosing isolated growth hormone deficiency in short children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diagnosis of isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) can be challenging. As short stature is common in children, confirmed diagnosis is necessary prior to commencing treatment. Pituitary hypoplasia can be seen in children with IGHD. However, confirmatory studies are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the application of pituitary size as a marker for IGHD in a population-matched control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with IGHD were enrolled. Patients had brain magnetic resonance imaging, and the height and width of the pituitary were measured. Pituitary volume was calculated as (height × width)3/2. A control group was recruited.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty patients and 130 controls were enrolled. The median and age range for the patients and controls were 11 and 3-16 years and 9 and 3-17 years, respectively. Cases had a significantly lower dimensions compared to controls (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pituitary volume can be a useful marker to compliment the diagnosis of IGHD in selected patients when population-relevant normative control data are used.
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deeb
authors.forename: Salima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.forename: Ghada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Elhag
authors.forename: AbuBaker
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Fatih
authors.forename: Jaqan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagelkerke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004393:Dwarfism, Pituitary / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019382:Human Growth Hormone