Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The inflammatoirs background processes, and infiltrating tumour of the pituitary stalk are rare. They are a heterogeneous group of lesions responsible of partial or global hypopituitarism.

Aim: Search for thickening of the pituitary stalk aetiologies and specify the clinical aspects.

Population methodology: This is a retrospective study of 24 patients with thickening of the pituitary stalk. All patients benefited from a clinical, biological and radiological exploration.

Results: A female predominance (17 women) with four paediatric cases are observed. The average age is 30 years (7–48). RMI was performed for hypopituitarism dissociated (n: 19); diabetes insipidus (n: 4) and early puberty (n: 1). The attainment of the stem is associated with a hyperprolactinaemia in 15 cases (62, 4%). Thyrotropin insufficiency in 16 cases (66.6%), gonadotropin insufficiency in ten cases (41.6%), corticotropin insufficiency in five cases (20, 8%), somatotropin insufficiency in four cases (16.6%) and central diabetes insipidus in four cases (16, 6%). The aetiological investigation led to the diagnosis of sellar metastasis in three cases (12, 5%), neurosarcoidosis in 15 cases (62.4%), autoimmune hypophysis in two cases (8, 3%) and germinoma in one child (4, 16%). Finally the aetiological investigation was negative in the remaining three cases (12.5%, two children).

Discussion and conclusion: The causes of thickening of the pituitary stalk are varied. They must be some thoroughly researched and monitored in idiopathic forms. La frequency of pituitary involvement encouraged to make regular hormonal evaluations.