Reversible endocrine dysfunction and pituitary stalk enlargement

We report 4 patients (3 of which were children) with diabetes insipidus and different degrees of hypopituitarism in whom a pituitary stalk enlargement was disclosed on imaging techniques, and in whom radiological and functional recovery was observed during followup. Pituitary substitution therapy with desmopressin, thyroxine, hydrocortisone, growth hormone and/or oral contraceptives was prescribed. During follow-up, regression of the stalk lesion was seen which was spontaneous in 2 cases, following a short course of corticosteroids in another and an empirical trial of tuberculostatic drugs in the fourth. A partial recovery of pituitary function was also observed. These cases illustrate that pituitary stalk enlargement and associated hypopituitarism may be reversible; however, this morphological and functional recovery has rarely been described in adults and has not been previously reported in children. (C) 1998, Editrice Kurtis.