title: Radiotherapy-induced hypopituitarism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: the tip of an iceberg.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiation-induced hypopituitarism is an important late complication of cranial radiotherapy in children and adults. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the effects of radiotherapy on pituitary function in adult nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pituitary function was evaluated in 30 patients after cranial radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Somatotroph and corticotroph axes were assessed by insulin tolerance test while gonadotroph and thyroid axes were evaluated by basal pituitary and end organ hormone levels at 10-133 months after radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At least one hormonal disorder was observed in 28 (93%) patients after radiotherapy. 26 (87%) patients had one or more anterior pituitary hormone deficiencies. The rates of pituitary hormone deficiencies were 77% for growth hormone, followed by adrenocorticotropic hormone (73%), thyroid-stimulating hormone (27%) and gonadotropins (7%). Hyperprolactinemia was present in 13 (43%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiation-induced hypopituitarism is more common than expected in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ipekci
authors.affiliation: Meram School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiyici
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Artac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*