Endocrine function in patients with suprasellar and hypothalamic tumours

The pituitary function in 35 consecutive patients with a non-pituitary suprasellar tumour was studied. In craniopharyngiomas and hypothalmic gliomas severe hormonal disturbances were the rule. In suprasellar cysts and meningiomas and in optic nerve gliomas the hormonal disturbances were on the whole less marked and related to the size of the tumour as judged from the pneumoencephalography, larger tumours leading to more extensive alterations than smaller neoplasms.