All issues > Volume 8(1); 1965

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1965;8(1):25-36. Published online March 31, 1965.

Endocrine Studies in Patients with Cranipharyngioma

Se Mo Suh¹

¹Department of Pediatrics YonSei University College of Medicine Seoul, Korea

Abstract

20 patients with craniopharyngioma from 1950 to 1962 at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center,Boston, Massachusetts were studied, before and after the removal of the tumor, on the following parameter of endocrine functions: 1)Thyroid function was studied by the measurement of PBI (or BEI), cholesterol, RAI uptake, BMR, RBC uptake and by the evaluation of hight and bone age. Pre-operatively, 9 patients had hypothyroidism. The most common finding in them was retarded height and bone age, the latter being more retarded than the former. Such finding was observed in 7 of them. Post-operatively, 18 patients had hypothyroidism. 2)Adrenocortical function was studied by the rest ing level of urinary *17 KS & 17 OH and ACTH & Methopyrapone tests. 8 patients had normal urinary 17 OH level pre-ope-ratively, but, since none of them had ACTH & Metho-pyrapone tests, no definite conclusion could be drawn. 10 patients were studied post-operatively and 9 were proved to have a decreased function. 3)Gonadal function was studied by the urinary 17 KS & FSH level, estrogen effect from vaginal smear and the development of external genitalia. Preoperatively, 2 patients who were in adolescence had normal function. One patient had accelerated function with precocity and the remaining 17 were not conclusive because they were in preadolescence. Post-operatively, among 7 patients who were in adolescence, 6 showed decreased function. Studies on the remaining 13 patients, who were in preadolescence, were not conclusive except for one who had precocity pre-operatively and remained so in the post-operative period. 4) Growth was evaluated by the measurement of height(or length), weight and bone maturation. Pre-operatively, 8 patients showed retarded linear growth, 3 showed obesity and 3 showed emaciation. Post-operatively, despite the prolonged use of thyroid hormone in an adequate dosage, 11 patients showed retarded linear growth, suggesting a possibility of decreased secretion of growth hormone, 11 patients showed obesity and 4 patients showed emaciation. A po ssible relationship between change in body weight and change in the secretion of fat mobilizing hormone from the pituitary gland and/or the damage of hypothalamic centers; e.g., ventromedial and lateral area were discussed.

Keywords :