Hypothalamic tumor presenting as anorexia nervosa

The authors describe a patient with symptoms of anorexia nervosa who was initially treated on a psychiatric ward but was later found to have a hypothalamic tumor. They recommend repeated neurological and endocrine evaluations for patients with anorexia nervosa who are unresponsive or only partially responsive to psychiatric treatment. Initially negative medical evaluations, obvious psychopathology, and even some response to treatment may all prove insufficient to rule out organic disease.