Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities in young female patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
10.5468/ogs.2019.62.4.249
- Author:
Ji Yeon KANG
1
;
Sang Heum KIM
;
Hounyoung KIM
;
Hyojin KI
;
Mee Hwa LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea. yeegen@cha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism;
Amenorrhea;
Delayed puberty;
Magnetic resonance imaging
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Amenorrhea;
Female;
Gonadotropins;
Humans;
Hypogonadism;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Pituitary Gland;
Puberty;
Puberty, Delayed;
Retrospective Studies;
Sex Characteristics
- From:Obstetrics & Gynecology Science
2019;62(4):249-257
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the association between clinical and laboratory characteristics and pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in young female patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH). METHODS: We retrospectively investigated a series of 74 female patients (age range, 14–42 years) with normoprolactinemic HH who underwent pituitary MRI. Pubertal milestones and hormonal features of patients with small pituitary glands (PGs) and space-occupying lesions were compared with those of patients with normal PGs. RESULTS: The overall frequency of abnormal PGs was 35.1%, with space-occupying lesions observed in 8 patients (10.8%), and small PG observed in 18 patients (24.3%). The mean serum gonadotropin level was not different between patients with and without pituitary MRI abnormalities (P>0.05). Space-occupying lesions were not associated with low gonadotropin levels, type of amenorrhea, or presence of secondary sex characteristics. The frequency of space-occupying lesions was higher in patients with interrupted puberty (25.0%) than in patients who did not go through puberty (4.8%) or had a normal puberty (9.8%), but were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Small PG was associated with low gonadotropin levels and type of amenorrhea (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Clinically significant space-occupying lesions were not associated with low gonadotropin levels, type of amenorrhea, or presence of secondary sex characteristics. However, the frequency of space-occupying lesions was higher in patients with interrupted puberty than in patients who did not go through puberty or who with normal puberty.
