[Tooth and face abnormalities associated with pituitary growth hormone insufficiency]

Dental and facial examination has been performed in sixty-two children with idiopathic or congenital growth hormone deficiency. Fourteen (22%) had a malformation of the upper incisors and/or of the naso-frontal bud or of the eyes, associated in five with a malformation of the brain in the prosencephalon-derived areas. Moreover, fourteen patients had some facial abnormality in an area situated near that derived from the naso-frontal bud. These associations are to be considered as a clinical marker able to call for pituitary investigation in short children. They suggest that some cases of so-called idiopathic hypopituitarism relate in fact to congenital and malformative causes.