Neuroimaging Review of Pediatric Endocrinopathies
The hypothalamic-pituitary axis regulates many important functions in a child, including growth, puberty, and maintenance of physiologic homeostasis. Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis can produce hormone disturbances that result in various pediatric neuroendocrinopathies,
including an isolated growth hormone deficiency, multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies, precocious or delayed puberty, central diabetes insipidus, and elevated pituitary hormone conditions (eg, hyperprolactinemia). Although the hormonal abnormalities in a child with endocrinopathy are typically
well characterized with clinical and laboratory evaluations by an endocrinologist, neuroimaging with brain MR imaging can be critical for identifying an underlying etiology to guide prognosis and treatment. Neuroendocrinopathies can be congenital, such as from genetic mutations involved in
hypothalamic-pituitary axis development, or acquired, such as with pediatric suprasellar masses, trauma, or inflammatory conditions, or after cranial irradiation. This article reviews the clinical presentations, pathophysiologies, etiologies, and MR imaging findings in children who present
with specific types of neuroendocrinopathies.
Learning Objective: To review the pathophysiologies, etiologies, and associated neuroimaging findings in the most commonly imaged pediatric neuroendocrinopathies.
Learning Objective: To review the pathophysiologies, etiologies, and associated neuroimaging findings in the most commonly imaged pediatric neuroendocrinopathies.
Keywords: ADH = antidiuretic hormone; DI = diabetes insipidus; FSH = follicle-stimulating hormone; GHRH = growth hormone‐releasing hormone; GH = growth hormone; GnRH = gonadotropin-releasing hormone; HPA = hypothalamic-pituitary axis; LCH = Langerhans cell histiocytosis; LH = luteinizing hormone; MAS = McCune-Albright syndrome; MEN1 = multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1; NF1 = neurofibromatosis type 1; OPG = optic pathway glioma; PPBS = posterior pituitary bright spot; RCC = Rathke cleft cyst; SD = standard deviation; SOD = septooptic dysplasia; WHO = World Health Organization
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 February 2020
- Neurographics is the peer-reviewed, quarterly educational journal of the American Society of Neuroradiology. The journal includes review articles as well as high-yield case reports that have been solicited from society meetings, including the annual meeting of the ASNR as well as the American Society of Spine Radiology, the American Society of Pediatric Neuroradiology, the American Society of Functional Neuroradiology, and the American Society of Head and Neck Radiology meetings. Unsolicited educational review articles and case reports are also accepted for review at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. Submissions focusing on a pictorial approach to educational objectives are highly encouraged. The journal is open access and available online. CME credit is offered for reading review articles and completing activity evaluations through the ASNR Education Connection website: https://www.pathlms.com/asnr
- Editorial Board
- Information for Authors
- Membership Information
- Order a Print Copy
- Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
- Access Key
- Free content
- Partial Free content
- New content
- Open access content
- Partial Open access content
- Subscribed content
- Partial Subscribed content
- Free trial content