Cryptorchidism is a Useful Clue for Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism in Pituitary Stalk Thickening

Abstract

Pituitary stalk lesions can represent a wide range of pathologies. The exact cause is often unknown due to hesitancy to proceed with biopsy. We present a 16-year-old adolescent who presented with delayed puberty, short stature and bilateral cryptorchidism. He was found to have a thickened pituitary stalk of uncertain etiology with partial hypopituitarism (gonadotrophin and growth hormone deficiency) on further assessment. The presence of bilateral cryptorchidism and micropenis represents lack of “mini puberty,” a phenomenon of activation of the hypothalamic - pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in -utero or within the first few months of life.1 These key clinical features have been useful to establish an early temporal relationship and suggest a congenital origin of disease. This enabled a more conservative approach of surveillance to be employed as opposed to invasive pathological examination with pituitary stalk biopsy.

Keywords

• hypopituitarism
• cryptorchidism
• hypogonadism
• pituitary disease