[Study of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal function in 16 patients after surgery for pituitary tumor (author's...

The hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical function has been studied in 16 patients operated from pituitary tumors (13 adenomas; 3 craniopharyngiomas). Comparisons have been made between corticotropin and cortisol response to lysine vasopressin, insulin induced-hypoglycemia and metyrapone IV and per os. Among these different stimulating tests, insulin induced hypoglycemia and metyrapone per os seem to give the more accurate informations metyrapone per os being more convenient because harmless. Three different groups of patients have been distinguished : one without adrenocortical deficiency; one with a complete deficiency and a third group with a partial deficiency. Correlations have been studied between the degree of the adrenocortical deficiency, the volume of the tumor and the presence of the absence of other anterior pituitary dysfunctions.