Dados do Trabalho

Título

PITUITARY TUMORS IN CHILDREN: CASE SERIES

Introdução

Pituitary gland tumors are rare during childhood, with a reported prevalence of up to one case per million children. Although uncommon, these tumors can appear in the pediatric age group, challenging healthcare professionals due to their nonspecific clinical characteristics, which can delay diagnosis, leading to unfavorable outcomes for the patient.
There are few studies in the scientific literature reporting the profile of pituitary tumors in children and adolescents, reinforcing the importance of describing and analyzing these cases.

Objetivo

Report the profile of pituitary tumors in children and adolescents.

Método

A retrospective analysis of all pituitary tumors surgically treated at our institution from 2012 to 2018 was performed. All patients under 18 years of age at the time of the surgical procedure were selected. Data such as sex, age, tumor size, invasion of adjacent structures, hormone production, histopathological characteristics, symptoms, time from the first symptoms to diagnosis and postoperative evolution were evaluated.

Resultado

After a retrospective analysis, 263 pituitary tumors surgically treated at our institution in the selected period were identified. Of this total, twelve patients met the study inclusion criteria (4.56%). Most tumors occurred in male patients (75%), with a mean age of presentation of 14 years. Eleven patients had pituitary adenoma, most of them macroadenomas. One patient had primary pituitary lymphoma. Among patients with adenomas, three were prolactinomas, six were non-functioning adenomas, and three had Cushing's disease. Despite the variety of hormonal characteristics, the most frequent complaints were failure to thrive and late puberty, including in a patient with pituitary lymphoma. There was a mean time of nine months between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis of the pituitary tumor.

Conclusão

Although rare, pituitary tumors should be considered in children, especially in those with growth deficiency. An interdisciplinary effort, especially with endocrinology and pediatrics, is essential to establish an early and accurate diagnosis, increasing the chances of surgical cure.

Palavras-chave

Adenoma; Lymphoma; Pituitary; Infantile; Pediatric; Endonasal.