Abstract
116 children (51F,65M) treated for brain tumours remote from the hypothalamus or pituitary and clinically disease free at the time of study were assessed. All had received cranial irradiation, 76 spinal irradiation and 34 adjuvant chemotherapy. Mean age at treatment was 6.7 years (1-15) and follow up 8,5 years (1-23).
112 children had abnormalities of growth and/or GH secretion.
Primary thyroid dysfunction was identified in 36% of all children treated with craniospinal irradiation, with or without chemotherapy. Of 30 children treated with craniospinal irradiation and chemotherapy, 66% had primary hypothyroidism. The contribution of chemotherapy to primary thyroid dysfunction was highly significant (p<0.001). Secondary thyroid dysfunction occurred in 6 of 116 children.
Primary gonadal dysfunction was present in 64% of girls treated with craniospinal irradiation, with or without chemotherapy. Chemotherapy did not affect the incidence. No girls treated with cranial irradiation alone were affected. 4 of the boys who had received chemotherapy (36%) had primary testicular dysfunction. Hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism was found in 6% of children.
ACTH deficiency was found in 4 of 85 children assessed.
Data from this large series indicate the extent of endocrine damage and the contributions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in its aetiology.
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Livesey, E., Brook, C. PREVALENCE AND AETIOLOGY OF ENDOCRINE DISORDERS FOLLOWING TREATMENT OF BRAIN TUMOURS. Pediatr Res 23, 119 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198801000-00105
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198801000-00105