Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Pituitary Function in Children with Panhypopituitarism

Background: To explore the relationship between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and multiple pituitary-target hormones in patients with panhypopituitarism or multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). Methods: 125 patients with MPHD (102 boys, MPHD group) and 90 age-, sex- and Tanner stage-matched normal children (control group) were enrolled. 96 of the patients with MPHD underwent MRI scans of the hypothalamic-pituitary area. The patients were subdivided into five stages according to their MRI findings. The serum concentrations of GH, IGF-1, FT4, TSH, ACTH, cortisol, FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone and estradiol were measured in patients and in controls. Results: MRI stage was significantly positively correlated with the number of pituitary hormone deficiencies (r = 0.9, p 4, cortisol and anterior pituitary height (r = –0.43, –0.47, –0.67, –0.54, and –0.49, respectively, p Conclusion: An abnormal MRI finding is evidence of MPHD and, correspondingly, there is a noteworthy correlation between MRI and pituitary function.