[Magnetic resonance tomography studies of the hypophysis in children with growth hormone deficiency, born with umbilical cord entanglement].

Eight children with either panhypopituarism, severe growth hormone deficiency or neurosecretory dysfunction for growth hormone with a common history of umbilical cord encirclement around the neck underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. Panhypopituitarism was associated with small to absent adenohypophysis, narrow or absent stalk and ectopic neurohypophysis whereas patients with partial GHD showed normal anatomical structures. Etiology of the endocrinopathy could be a primary malformation of the pituitary gland, an apoplexy of the gland or disturbation within the hypothalamus. We believe that the latter cause is predominant in umbilical cord encirclement.