Hypothalamic lipoma and growth hormone deficiency

Background: Intracranial lipomas are rare, congenital lesions, most often located at the midline. Most hypothalamic lipomas are asymptomatic, but some cases have been associated with precocious puberty, hypothermia, headache and/or obesity.

Case presentation: A 7-year-old boy was referred for short stature and proved to be partially growth-hormone deficient. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a lipoma in the paramedian hypothalamus. Growth hormone treatment resulted in swift and uncomplicated catch-up growth.

Conclusions: The present case appears to be the first to link hypothalamic lipoma to GH deficiency. The neuro-endocrine pathophysiology underpinning this link remains to be explored.