Short Stature due to Ectopic Neurohypophysis: Case Report

Abstract

Ectopic posterior pituitary is a disruption in the normal embryogenesis and is one of the rare but common causes of pituitary dwarfism. We report the MRI and clinical findings of a 13.5-year-old Saudi boy who was referred to the endocrine outpatient clinic with no significant complaints except for fatigue, exercise intolerance and short stature. Physical examination revealed short stature (below 2nd centile) with normal body proportion without any dysmorphic features and prepubertal secondary sexual characteristics and genitalia. Hormonal profile revealed: low thyroxine level, low gonadotrophins, low testosterone, low cortisol and blunted growth hormone (GH) response to insulin induced hypoglycaemia. Bone age was of 5 years old. The MRI result concluded with a diagnosis of ectopic posterior pituitary. A diagnosis of posterior pituitary ectopia (PPE) with panhypopituitarism was made.