Pituitary dwarfism

Alternative names:

dwarfism; growth hormone deficiency; panhypopituitarism

Definition:

Abnormally short stature with normal body proportions which develops during childhood. Pituitary dwarfism is different than "true" or genetic dwarfism, which is characterized by abnormal body proportions.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Abnormally short height in childhood may be due to dysfunction of the pituitary gland, resulting in underproduction of growth hormone. This may result from a tumor in the pituitary gland, absence of the pituitary gland, or trauma.

Growth retardation may become evident in infancy and persists throughout childhood. The "growth curve" demonstrated by plotting sequential height measurements on a standardized growth chart, may range from flat (no growth) to very shallow (minimal growth). Normal puberty may or may not occur depending on the degree of pituitary insufficiency (inability of the pituitary to produce adequate hormone levels other than growth hormone) that is present.

Pituitary dwarfism may be associated with deficiencies of other hormones:

• thyrotropins (controls production of thyroid hormones)
• vasopressin (controls water balance in the body)
• gonadotropins (controls production of male and female sex hormones)
• ACTH or adrenocorticotrophic hormone (controls the adrenal gland and its production of cortisol, DHEA, and other hormones)

Physical defects of the face and skull may also be associated with abnormalities of the pituitary or pituitary function. A small percentage of infants with cleft lip and cleft palate may have decreased growth hormone levels.