MRI is important for detecting pathological causes and morphologic anomalies in pediatric growth hormone deficiency, providing anatomical explanations and prognostic implications.
Supports MRI in pediatric GHD workup; leaves open need for prospective outcome studies before guideline changes.
Neuroradiological imaging is important for detecting pathological causes of growth hormone deficiency (GHD), particularly tumors, that may re-quire surgical intervention. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) also has an increasingly important secondary role. MRI can provide important insights into other causes of GHD including congenital or acquired irregularities in pituitary size, lo-cation and stalk connection. Detection of pituitary anomalies such as hypoplastic anterior pituitary glands, ectopic posterior pituitary glands, and dysplasia or interruption of the hypothalamic pituitary stalk can provide an anatomical explanation for what would otherwise be considered idiopathic GHD. This review describes 1) the associations and etiologies of the most common central nervous system (CNS) morphologic variations found with pediatric GHD, 2) the diagnostic and prognostic implications of these CNS anomalies, especially as risk factors for multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies, and 3) suggestions for patient selection criteria for neurological scanning.
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J. Paul Frindik (2001) studied this question.
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