Craniopharyngioma in a female adolescent presenting with symptoms of anorexia nervosa

Klinische Pädiatrie
T R RohrerH G Dörr

Abstract

Tumours of the central nervous system mostly present with neurological symptoms and signs of intracranial hypertension. Several reports of cerebral tumors in adolescents outline initial symptoms of anorexia and emaciation, leading to the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. We report on a 15.5-year-old girl with a craniopharyngioma. The girl had a 2 year history of weight loss, dystrophy, no onset of puberty, and a 6 year history of headache. These symptoms had led initially to the clinical diagnoses of migraine and anorexia nervosa, since unenhanced computed tomography of the brain was normal. At presentation, physical examination showed short stature (height SDS - 3.6) and Tanner stage I. Bone age delay was about four years. Laboratory analyses showed hypopituitarism. The diagnosis of craniopharyngioma was made by repeated imaging, depicting an intrasellar and parasellar mass, which was totally removed by neurosurgery. Hormonal substitution with hGH, L-thyroxine, hydrocortisone, and estrogens led to normal physiological development and final height within upper target height. The reported case illustrates that the diagnosis of craniopharyngioma is often delayed due to unspecific clinical symptoms. Careful evaluation of anthropometr...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 17, 2013·Journal of Clinical Neuroscience : Official Journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia·Isaac J AbecassisJames P Chandler
Dec 31, 2008·The International Journal of Eating Disorders·Laura Vad WinklerRené Klinkby Støving
Nov 5, 2015·International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health·Yuji KoikeYukako Yokouchi
Dec 27, 2011·European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology·Antonella DiamantiDomenico Barbuti

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