Pituitary Stalk Interruption Syndrome in a Newborn with Encephalopathy: A Case Report

Abstract

Pituitary Stalk Interruption Syndrome is a rare midline brain anomaly involving the pituitary gland that leads to a variable degree of pituitary hypofunction with a classic neuroimaging finding of the ectopic posterior pituitary, thin or absent pituitary stalk, and anterior pituitary hypoplasia. We present the case of a term newborn who developed encephalopathy and respiratory distress during the neonatal period and was later diagnosed with Pituitary Stalk Interruption Syndrome. Genetic defects have been identified in 5% of cases, and at times there are associated extra pituitary malformations. In spite of being a welldescribed syndrome, a detailed description of its neonatal presentation and course is lacking in the literature.