Two Adult Patients with Ectopic Neurohypophysis and Panhypopituitarism Due to Absent Pituitary Stalk

ABSTRACT

We report two cases of 27-year-old and 19-year-old female patients with ectopic neurohypophysis and panhypopituitarism due to absent pituitary stalk. They were admitted to the endocrinology clinic with short stature, growth retardation and primary amenorrhea. Basal hormones revealed secondary hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, hypogonadism and growth hormone insufficiency. Peak cortisol response to the short synacthen test (SST) was normal but was inadequate to insulin tolerance test. The other dynamic pituitary function tests showed panhypopituitarism. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary gland revealed an ectopic posterior pituitary tissue and absent pituitary stalk. We administered hormone replacement therapy. As this disorder is usually encountered in the pediatric age group, we report here two adult patients with ectopic posterior pituitary tissue, absent pituitary stalk and panhypopituitarism.