Growth hormone deficiency
Alternative Names
Panhypopituitarism; Dwarfism; Pituitary dwarfismSymptoms
- Absent or delayed sexual development in an adolescent
- Excessive thirst with excessive urination
- Headaches
- Increased urine volume
- Short stature -- below 5th percentile on a standardized growth chart, an adult less than 5 feet tall
- Slow growth before age 5
- Slowed or absent increase in height
Exams and Tests
A physical examination including weight, height, and body proportions will show signs of slowed growth rate and deviation from normal growth curves.
Tests may include the following:
- DEXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) can also determine bone age.
- Hand x-ray can determine bone age.
- Measurement of growth hormone and associated binding protein levels (IGF-I and IGFBP-3) reveals if the growth problem is caused by dysfunction of the pituitary gland.
- MRI of the head can show the hypothalamus and pituitary glands.
- Tests to measure other hormone levels (lack of growth hormone may not be the only problem).
- X-ray of head may show problems with the skull, such as small, enlarged, or empty sella, or a space-occupying lesion.
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