Hi Mary! You need your daughter to see a pituitary endocrinolgist, perhaps at a major pitutiary center, and the choice at OHSU is a good one. ![]() Pituitary stalk thickening can be caused by several things. The most common are as follows: Developmental abnormalities (cysts) Craniopharyngioma (occasionally intrasellar location)
Germinoma
Hamartoma
Chordoma
Epidermoid and Dermoid
Systemic diseases of the central nervous system Histiocystosis X
Eosinophilic granuloma
Giant cell granuloma (tumor)
Granulomatous diseases
Neurosarcoidosis
Wegner's granulomatosis
Tuberculoma The doctors may be able to diagnose what she has with peripherial testing, or even additional imaging with high resolution MRI. Surgery would NOT be done unless there was a clear tumor that was actually comprising the optic nerve and the hypothalamus and possibly other brain structures. So... what's up with the pituitary stalk thickening? Slow loss of pituitary function. That is why it is very, very important for a pituitary endocrine specialist to be monitoring your daughter. Over time, it is conceivable that she could loose full pituitary function as the stalk continues to enlarge. If it makes you feel any better... I have a similar presentation, but different, and I too will be going to OHSU in a couple of weeks - actually the last week of Sept. Hope this information helps. (((((hugs)))))![]() ![]() Minnie | 