Undiagnosed GHD common in irradiated survivors of childhood brain tumors

The prevalence of undiagnosed growth hormone deficiency (GHD) amongst survivors of childhood brain tumors who were treated with irradiation with no growth hormone (GH) test at final height is high, according to a study.

In this cross-sectional study, the medical charts of patients with childhood brain tumors who had survived 5 years were evaluated. Participants had a median age of 21.7 years (range 15.1 – 33.8 years) at follow-up and 14.8 years (range 5.1 – 23.4 years) since diagnosis. Participants without a GH test at the final height were offered a GH stimulation test.

Of the 41 patients included in the study, 11 had been treated with proton irradiation and 30 with photon irradiation. Of the 21 survivors who had undergone GH testing, 18 were found to have GHD. Of the 20 participants who did not have a GH test at final height, 16 opted to be tested, with 8 patients diagnosed with GHD.

Overall, 63% of participants in the study had GHD.

Reference
Baunsgaard MM, Helligsoe ASL, Henriksen LT, et al. Growth hormone deficiency in adult survivors of childhood brain tumors treated with radiation. Endocr Connect. 2022;EC-22-0365. doi: 10.1530/EC-22-0365. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36507776.