Abstract
The perinatal histories and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 16 children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (complete type) were assessed in order to define the relationship between perinatal insult and the development of growth hormone deficiency.
The pregnancies in growth hormone deficiency were complicated by a significantly higher incidence of breech delivery and asphysia. MRI findings demonstrated that 12 of 16 patients with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency have an ectopic neurohypophysis and absence of the infundibulum.
We believe that the growth hormone deficiency in these patients is related to the insult to the pituitary stalk.
