Endocrine Disorders in Children with Brain Tumors: At Diagnosis, after Surgery, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy

Introduction: Brain tumors are the second most frequent type of all pediatric malignancies. Depending on their localization, patients with brain tumors may present neurological or ophthalmological symptoms, but also weight anomalies and endocrine disorders ranging from growth hormone deficiency, ano...

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Main Authors: Fabien Claude, Graziamaria Ubertini, Gabor Szinnai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:Children
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/11/1617
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author Fabien Claude
Graziamaria Ubertini
Gabor Szinnai
author_facet Fabien Claude
Graziamaria Ubertini
Gabor Szinnai
author_sort Fabien Claude
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Brain tumors are the second most frequent type of all pediatric malignancies. Depending on their localization, patients with brain tumors may present neurological or ophthalmological symptoms, but also weight anomalies and endocrine disorders ranging from growth hormone deficiency, anomalies of puberty, diabetes insipidus to panhypopituitarism. Immediately at diagnosis, all patients with brain tumors require a complete assessment of the hypothalamic–pituitary function in order to address eventual endocrine disorders. Moreover, children and adolescents undergoing brain surgery must receive peri- and postoperative hydrocortisone stress therapy. Post-operative disorders of water homeostasis are frequent, ranging from transient diabetes insipidus, as well as syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion to persistent diabetes insipidus. Late endocrine disorders may result from surgery near or within the hypothalamic–pituitary region. Pituitary deficits are frequent after radiotherapy, especially growth hormone deficiency. Thyroid nodules or secondary thyroid cancers may arise years after radiotherapy. Gonadal dysfunction is frequent after chemotherapy especially with alkylating agents. Conclusion: Early detection and treatment of specific endocrine disorders at diagnosis, perioperatively, and during long-term follow-up result in improved general and metabolic health and quality of life.
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spelling doaj.art-41983dea2a6a4ac2a1c3810f459535e82023-11-24T04:11:02ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-10-01911161710.3390/children9111617Endocrine Disorders in Children with Brain Tumors: At Diagnosis, after Surgery, Radiotherapy and ChemotherapyFabien Claude0Graziamaria Ubertini1Gabor Szinnai2Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Children’s Hospital Basel, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Pediatric Endocrinology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00165 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Children’s Hospital Basel, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, SwitzerlandIntroduction: Brain tumors are the second most frequent type of all pediatric malignancies. Depending on their localization, patients with brain tumors may present neurological or ophthalmological symptoms, but also weight anomalies and endocrine disorders ranging from growth hormone deficiency, anomalies of puberty, diabetes insipidus to panhypopituitarism. Immediately at diagnosis, all patients with brain tumors require a complete assessment of the hypothalamic–pituitary function in order to address eventual endocrine disorders. Moreover, children and adolescents undergoing brain surgery must receive peri- and postoperative hydrocortisone stress therapy. Post-operative disorders of water homeostasis are frequent, ranging from transient diabetes insipidus, as well as syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion to persistent diabetes insipidus. Late endocrine disorders may result from surgery near or within the hypothalamic–pituitary region. Pituitary deficits are frequent after radiotherapy, especially growth hormone deficiency. Thyroid nodules or secondary thyroid cancers may arise years after radiotherapy. Gonadal dysfunction is frequent after chemotherapy especially with alkylating agents. Conclusion: Early detection and treatment of specific endocrine disorders at diagnosis, perioperatively, and during long-term follow-up result in improved general and metabolic health and quality of life.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/11/1617brain tumorpituitary glandendocrine deficitsdiabetes insipiduslong-term follow-up
spellingShingle Fabien Claude
Graziamaria Ubertini
Gabor Szinnai
Endocrine Disorders in Children with Brain Tumors: At Diagnosis, after Surgery, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy
Children
brain tumor
pituitary gland
endocrine deficits
diabetes insipidus
long-term follow-up
title Endocrine Disorders in Children with Brain Tumors: At Diagnosis, after Surgery, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy
title_full Endocrine Disorders in Children with Brain Tumors: At Diagnosis, after Surgery, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy
title_fullStr Endocrine Disorders in Children with Brain Tumors: At Diagnosis, after Surgery, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy
title_full_unstemmed Endocrine Disorders in Children with Brain Tumors: At Diagnosis, after Surgery, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy
title_short Endocrine Disorders in Children with Brain Tumors: At Diagnosis, after Surgery, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy
title_sort endocrine disorders in children with brain tumors at diagnosis after surgery radiotherapy and chemotherapy
topic brain tumor
pituitary gland
endocrine deficits
diabetes insipidus
long-term follow-up
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/11/1617
work_keys_str_mv AT fabienclaude endocrinedisordersinchildrenwithbraintumorsatdiagnosisaftersurgeryradiotherapyandchemotherapy
AT graziamariaubertini endocrinedisordersinchildrenwithbraintumorsatdiagnosisaftersurgeryradiotherapyandchemotherapy
AT gaborszinnai endocrinedisordersinchildrenwithbraintumorsatdiagnosisaftersurgeryradiotherapyandchemotherapy