Purpose: To determine whether structural abnormalities of the neurohypophysis, as detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can be used to diagnose hypopituitarism in children with optic nerve hypoplasia.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of 67 children with optic nerve hypoplasia who had MRI and pediatric endocrinologic evaluation at Arkansas Children's Hospital from 1989 to 1999.
Results: A total of 26 children with optic nerve hypoplasia had pituitary hormone deficiency. MRI disclosed posterior pituitary ectopia in 16 of these cases, absence of the pituitary infundibulum and posterior pituitary bright spot in 7 of these cases, and a normal neurohypophysis in 3 of these cases. All 41 children with optic nerve hypoplasia and normal endocrinologic function had a normal neurohypophysis.
Conclusion: MRI of the neurohypophysis can predict when congenital hypopituitarism will be associated with optic nerve hypoplasia.