Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Full-Endoscopic Surgery for Hypothalamic Hamartoma Resection
02:22

Full-Endoscopic Surgery for Hypothalamic Hamartoma Resection

Published on: April 12, 2024

[Central precocious puberty due to hypothalamic hamartoma in Cameroon]

H D Mbassi Awa1, M T Abena Obama, A Pondy

  • 1Service de Pédiatrie, CHU, Yaoundé, Cameroun. mbassiahd@yahoo.fr

Medecine Tropicale : Revue Du Corps De Sante Colonial
|August 30, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Hypothalamic hamartoma can cause central precocious puberty. Treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs can slow puberty, but accessibility is a challenge in developing nations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Pediatric Neurology

Background:

  • Hypothalamic hamartoma is a rare cause of central precocious puberty (CPP).
  • CPP presents with early onset of secondary sexual characteristics.

Observation:

  • An 18-month-old girl presented with vaginal bleeding at 8 months, indicative of CPP.
  • Clinical examination revealed Tanner stage 3 puberty; psychomotor development was normal, and no epilepsy was observed.
  • Hormonal evaluation and brain MRI confirmed a hypothalamic hamartoma.

Findings:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for diagnosing hypothalamic hamartoma.
  • Long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog administration improved clinical symptoms.
  • Neurosurgery is not indicated for patients without epileptic seizures.

Implications:

  • Hypothalamic hamartoma should be considered in cases of CPP.
  • Accessibility and cost of MRI and GnRH agonists pose challenges in low-income countries.
  • GnRH agonists are effective in managing CPP, improving adult height, but affordability remains a barrier globally.

More Related Videos

A Novel Strategy Combining Array-CGH, Whole-exome Sequencing and In Utero Electroporation in Rodents to Identify Causative Genes for Brain Malformations08:22

A Novel Strategy Combining Array-CGH, Whole-exome Sequencing and In Utero Electroporation in Rodents to Identify Causative Genes for Brain Malformations

Published on: December 1, 2017

The Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Model as a Tool to Study Ovarian Tissue Transplantation05:38

The Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Model as a Tool to Study Ovarian Tissue Transplantation

Published on: June 23, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Signs of Puberty01:27

Signs of Puberty

Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
Sex-linked Disorders01:43

Sex-linked Disorders

Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis01:37

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.
Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology01:19

Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

Cortisol production is normally governed by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which maintains hormonal balance through tightly regulated feedback mechanisms. Disruption of this regulatory system is central to the development of Cushing syndrome, whether the excess cortisol originates from external medications or internal pathology. Persistent cortisol elevation alters metabolism, immune function, and endocrine signaling, producing the characteristic clinical features of the...
Sex Linked Disorders01:43

Sex Linked Disorders

Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
Huntington Disease l: Introduction01:21

Huntington Disease l: Introduction

Huntington disease or HD is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.PathophysiologyIt is caused by expansion of the CAG trinucleotide repeat in the HTT gene on chromosome 4 (4p16.3), producing an abnormal huntingtin protein with an expanded polyglutamine tract. This misfolded protein disrupts cellular function, leading to neuronal death. Normal alleles have ≤26 repeats, 27–35 are intermediate (risk of expansion), 36–39 show reduced penetrance,...