Evolving hypopituitarism following cranial irradiation.

Increasing survival after treatment for childhood cancer in recent years has left many patients with long-term sequelae. Following cranial irradiation, changes in hypothalamic-pituitary function evolve over several years and multiple hormone deficiencies are frequently found. In the present study we describe a boy whose initial presentation with a cerebral tumour included central precocious puberty. He was followed for more than 15 years and sequentially developed deficiencies of growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, gonadotrophins and adrenocorticotropic hormone after high-dose cranial irradiation. Long-term endocrine follow up of such children is essential for the early diagnosis and optimal management of hormone deficiencies.