1. Facial metrics in children with corticotrophin-producing pituitary adenomas suggest abnormalities in midface development.
- Author
-
Keil MF and Stratakis CA
- Subjects
- ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma complications, ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma embryology, ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma physiopathology, Adenoma complications, Adenoma embryology, Adenoma physiopathology, Adolescent, Body Weights and Measures, Case-Control Studies, Child, Face abnormalities, Face anatomy & histology, Family, Female, Humans, Male, Maxillofacial Abnormalities pathology, Maxillofacial Abnormalities physiopathology, Models, Biological, Nasal Bone anatomy & histology, ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma pathology, Adenoma pathology, Face pathology, Maxillofacial Abnormalities etiology, Maxillofacial Development physiology
- Abstract
Background: Tumors of the hypothalamic-pituitary unit have been linked to genetic syndromes that are associated with midfacial abnormalities., Aim: We hypothesized that mutations of genes that affect the development of the face (and consequently of the anterior pituitary) may be present in children with ACTH-producing pituitary adenomas, and if this is true then facial measurements would be different from those predicted by parental features., Methods: We studied 20 children with corticotropinomas and a control group and their parents. All facial measurements were expressed according to standard deviation scores., Results: Significant differences were seen between the children with pituitary adenomas and their parents for vertical facial height measures: nasal length (p < 0.001), lower facial height (p < 0.03) and overall facial height (p < 0.01)., Conclusion: We conclude that some of the indices of midline craniofacial development, in particular those affecting the vertical axis, are different in children with corticotroph adenomas producing ACTH.
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF