Clinical analysis on 33 patients with hypothalamic syndrome in Chinese children.

Aim: To investigate the etiology and clinical characteristics of hypothalamic syndrome in Chinese children.

Methods: Thirty-three cases of hypothalamic syndrome were analyzed for etiology, initial symptoms, and clinical characteristics.

Results: All of the 33 patients manifested symptoms of hypothalamic dysfunction and disorders of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-target gland axis. Fourteen patients were diagnosed with an intracranial tumor by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination, four patients had postoperative intracranial tumors, one had received radiotherapy for suprasellar germinoma, one was hypothalamic-pituitary dysplasia, one had a history of viral encephalitis, and in 12 patients, the cause was unknown. The most common presenting symptoms were polydipsia/polyuria and eating disorders.

Conclusion: Intracranial tumor is an important cause of hypothalamic syndrome in children, with germinoma the most common. Polydipsia, polyuria, and eating disorders are typical presenting symptoms. Long-term follow-up is needed for patients presenting with central diabetes insipidus, eating disorders or hypothalamic syndrome of unknown etiology. In addition, periodic pituitary MRI scanning is necessary to find potential intracranial tumors that may arise at any time.