Intracranial Lesions in Children and Adolescents with Morbid Obesity

Abstract

Background: Intracranial lesions may affect thehypothalamo-hypophyseal axis and lead to some neuroendocrinologicaldysfunctions (hyperphagia, sleepdisorders and hormonal dysfunctions). There is a verylimited number of studies about childhood obesity andintracranial lesions.Aims: To evaluate the incidence of intracranial lesionsand its role in clinical symptoms and aetiology in caseswith morbid obesity who have been admitted to thepaediatric endocrinology department with this complaint.Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Methods: A total of 120 cases admitted to the paediatricendocrinology department with the complaint of morbidobesity between 2002 and 2015 were included in thisstudy. A detailed history was taken and a physicalexamination was performed; biochemical, hormonalparameters were evaluated. Contrast dynamic magneticresonance imaging was performed in order to visualizecranial pathologies.Results: An intracranial lesions was detected in 16.6%of the patients and 55% of these lesions were adenomaof the hypophysis. Prolactin levels were increased insix patients but front hypophyseal hormone levels werewithin normal range in the rest of the patients. Growthvelocity of the patients was not affected.Conclusion: In our study, the incidence of intracraniallesions in children and adolescents with morbid obesitywas much higher than in the normal population.According to this data, we are of the opinion thatcontrast dynamic magnetic resonance imaging is helpfulin children with morbid obesity for the early detectionof the mass before it causes any clinical or neurologicalsymptoms and in the prevention of future complications.