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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
Published on: November 4, 2025
Facial metrics in children with corticotrophin-producing pituitary adenomas suggest abnormalities in midface
Margaret F Keil1, Constantine A Stratakis
1Pediatric Endocrinology Inter-Institute Training Program, Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Background:
Tumors of the hypothalamic-pituitary unit have been linked to genetic syndromes that are associated with midfacial abnormalities.
Aim:
We hypothesized that mutations of genes that affect the development of the face (and consequently of the anterior pituitary) may be present in children with ACTH-producing pituitary adenomas, and if this is true then facial measurements would be different from those predicted by parental features.
Methods:
We studied 20 children with corticotropinomas and a control group and their parents. All facial measurements were expressed according to standard deviation scores.
Results:
Significant differences were seen between the children with pituitary adenomas and their parents for vertical facial height measures: nasal length (p < 0.001), lower facial height (p < 0.03) and overall facial height (p < 0.01).
Conclusion:
We conclude that some of the indices of midline craniofacial development, in particular those affecting the vertical axis, are different in children with corticotroph adenomas producing ACTH.
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