Vascular Malformation of Hypothalamus: A Cause of Isolated Growth Hormone Deficiency

Abstract

The etiology of pituitary dwarfism is varied.1 The majority of cases are idiopathic (with an observed increase in history of birth trauma), and approximately one third are associated with radiologic changes of craniopharyngioma or pituitary tumor. A number are associated with midline embryonal defects, histiocytosis, basilar meningitis, and sarcoidosis. An increasingly reported cause is craniospinal irradiation for oncologic disease. An unusual, and previously unreported, cause is described. CASE REPORT A male child, born Aug 8, 1961, was investigated at the Royal Adelaide Hospital for shortness of stature. He was the second of four siblings; gestation and delivery were normal with a birth weight of 2.6 kg.