IMAGING OF THE PITUITARY IN CHILDREN WITH GROWTH DISORDERS

Magnetic resonance imaging reveals the anatomy of the pituitary and hy pothalamus with unique detail. The clinical and biochemical investigat ion of short stature in childhood may be difficult and complex; magnet ic resonance imaging of the pituitary is a non-invasive technique whic h can help to clarify the diagnosis of growth hormone insufficiency an d to determine its cause. Most cases of growth hormone insufficiency h ave previously been considered to be idiopathic; in about 60% of these children, magnetic resonance imaging shows a characteristic structura l abnormality which has been termed pituitary stalk interruption syndr ome. The most important role of magnetic resonance imaging is in the d iagnosis of destructive lesions of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis whi ch may initially present with growth failure. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e Ireland Ltd.