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Article
September 1968

Return of Normal Growth Following Removal of a Craniopharyngioma

Author Affiliations

Los Angeles and Pomona, Calif
From the Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, UCLA Center for the Health Sciences, Los Angeles, and Pacific State Hospital, Pomona, Calif. Doctor Frasier is now with the Childrens Division, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles.

Am J Dis Child. 1968;116(3):311-314. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1968.02100020313014
Abstract

CRANIOPHARYNGIOMA is frequently associated with dwarfism secondary to interference with hypothalamic or pituitary function or both. Persistence of pituitary insufficiency would be expected following removal of the tumor, whether or not hypophysectomy were a part of the surgical procedure. However, the maintenance or return of normal growth following surgery for craniopharyngioma has been suggested by several preliminary reports.1-4

We have observed a postoperative growth spurt followed by normal growth in a patient with preoperative growth retardation secondary to this lesion. The serum growth hormone response to hypoglycemia has been investigated preoperatively and postoperatively.

Report of a Case  The patient was admitted to the UCLA hospital at age 13 9/12 years (Oct 19, 1964) because of short stature, polyuria, polydipsia, and impaired vision.He had been noted to be short at age 7, but evaluation was not undertaken at that time. Beginning at age 8, the patient had the onset

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