This unique book presents an up-to-date discussion of clinical disorders of the pituitary gland in children with specific emphasis on state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment modalities, highlighting the newest scientific advances in genomics and molecular biology that clinician-scientists caring for children need to know. Chapters focus on the current knowledge base in genomics, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and medical and surgical management, organized into thematic sections. Part I discusses embryologic and genetic disorders, including genomics and congenital disorders of the pituitary. Part II presents acquired pituitary disorders, such as prolactinomas, Cushing's Disease, and both hormone secreting and non-secreting pituitary tumors. Subsequent sections cover posterior pituitary disorders, such as diabetes insipidus, functional hormone deficiencies of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, including delayed puberty and pubertal disorders and growth hormone disorders, neuro-opthalmic disease, CNS radiation, childhood cancer treatment and traumatic brain injury. Authoritative and comprehensive, Pituitary Disorders of Childhood will serve as a precise guide for clinical endocrinologists and will guide future investigation into translational and clinical research on the pediatric pituitary.

This book analyzes in detail all aspects related to endocrine and metabolic late effects observed in patients treated for cancer, both in childhood and adulthood. The chapters focusing on the possible pathogenic mechanisms of late effects (i.e., premature aging and chronic inflammation) and on bone health in cancer survivors are particularly interesting and innovative. The volume also deals with hypothalamic-pituitary, thyroid and gonadal disorders, including infertility and how to prevent it. Finally, the relationship between metabolic alterations and cardiovascular diseases in cancer survivors is addressed. Thanks to advances in cancer treatment and supportive care, the five-year survival rate of cancer patients is constantly increasing. However, this undisputable success of medicine has a flip side: the late adverse effects of anticancer therapies. Pediatric oncologists were the first to cope with late complications of treatments, but today also adult oncologists and onco-hematologists recognize the relevance of this issue. Even though late effects observed in cancer survivors can affect any organ or system, endocrine and metabolic dysfunctions are the most frequently reported. Endocrine complications rarely influence life expectancy of cancer survivors, but they can significantly impact morbidity and quality of life. Among endocrine adverse effects, severe hypothalamic damage may be considered the most harmful in survivors, leading to morbid obesity, propensity to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. This book aims to disseminate the knowledge about endocrine and metabolic adverse effects of cancer therapies and about survivorship care. Since the number of cancer survivors is steadily growing in the general population, this publication is intended not only for endocrinologists but also for oncologists, onco-hematologists, internists, pediatric specialists in those areas and general practitioners, with the aim to better counsel and monitor cancer survivors.

Continuing advances in the management of childhood malignancies result in a rapidly growing number of childhood cancer survivors. However, many of them experience treatment-induced 'late effects' including a significant number of endocrine dysfunctions.In this book experts in the field of late effects of childhood cancer treatment offer clinical insight into pertinent issues such as the impact of cancer therapies on growth, puberty and hypothalamic and pituitary function, male and female fertility, obesity, and metabolic and bone problems.Multidisciplinary long-term follow-up of these patients is essential to monitor, treat and prevent morbidity. Therefore this volume is of great interest to pediatric endocrinologists and oncologists, adult and reproductive endocrinologists, primary care practitioners, nurses and nurse practitioners as well as others involved in planning and delivering the holistic care which this increasingly numerous and important group of patients requires.

The pituitary gland is often referred to as the master gland, coordinating hormonal signals from the hypothalamus and peripheral circulation to maintain homeostasis in the body. Patients with pituitary dysfunction are faced with challenges unique to each stage of their life cycle. For example, the goals of management for a hypopituitary adolescent transitioning to adulthood would be to optimize growth and sexual development. In early adulthood, approaches that optimize of fertility in men and women can be a priority, and the management approach will be very different from that of older adults requiring sex hormone replacement. This case-based guide will provide practical clinical guidance on approaches to the management of pituitary disorders organized by time of life, from childhood and fertile years through to older age. Sensibly divided into sections, various pituitary disorders and conditions are described and relevant treatment strategies are outlined. Sections included discussions of the unique considerations for the pituitary gland in childhood and adolescents, patients desiring fertility and pregnant patients, health optimization and non-tumoral diagnoses in adults, and management of disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in the elderly. Each chapter presents a clinical case vignette as an introduction to the concepts and a framework for the discussion of the diagnosis, management and unique consideration of each pituitary pathology. Practical and user-friendly, Pituitary Disorders throughout the Life Cycle is an excellent resource for practicing clinical endocrinologists (pediatric, transitional care, adult) and reproductive endocrinologists as well as specialty residents and trainees.

Gigantism and Acromegaly brings together pituitary experts, taking readers from bench research, to genetic analysis, clinical analysis, and new therapeutic approaches. This book serves as a reference for growth hormone over-secretion and its diagnosis and treatment for endocrinologists, pediatricians, internists, and neurosurgeons, and for geneticists. Pharmaceutical companies may use it as a reference for drug development and research. Students, residents and fellows in medicine and endocrinology and genetics will also find it valuable as it provides a single up-to-date review of the molecular biology of gigantism and acromegaly as well as recommended approaches to evaluation and management. Acromegaly is a rare pituitary disorder that slowly changes its adult victim's appearance over time: larger hands and feet, bigger jaw, forehead, nose, and lips. Generally, a benign pituitary tumor is the cause and symptoms of acromegaly can vary from patient to patient, making a diagnosis difficult and prolonging suffering for years. Early detection is key in the management of acromegaly as the pathologic effects of increased growth hormone (GH) production are progressive and can be life-threatening as the result of associated cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory disorders and malignancies. - Accessible, up-to-date overview of the characteristics, state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures, and management of acromegaly and gigantism - Provides a unique compendium of endocrinology, genetics, clinical diagnosis and therapeutics - Contains contributions from internationally known experts who have treated patients with acromegaly and gigantism

A state-of-the-art and concise guide to the clinical management of pediatric endocrine disorders, the second edition of the highly regarded Pediatric Endocrinology: A Practical Clinical Guide covers the most common and challenging conditions seen by practicing endocrinologists and primary care physicians, including growth, hypothalamic, pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, calcium and bone, and reproductive disorders, as well as metabolic syndromes. This expanded second edition includes new topics being seen more commonly in pediatric endocrinology practices related to obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus and lipid disorders. Each chapter contains an introductory discussion of the problem, a review of the clinical features that characterize it, the criteria needed to establish a diagnosis, and a comprehensive therapy section delineating the risks and benefits of the best therapeutic options available. Invaluable tables summarize the critical factors in etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and therapeutic dosages. Pediatric Endocrinology: A Practical Clinical Guide, Second Edition, is a comprehensive resource for all clinicians concerned with the myriad endocrinologic disorders seen in children and adolescents.

Cancer is diagnosed in about 140 per million children in Britain each year. There is a 1 in 500 chance that a child will be affected in the first 15 years of life, the most frequently occurring types of cancer being leukaemia and brain tumours. This book covers the descriptive epidemiology of childhood cancer in Britain, based on the unique work of the National Registry of Childhood Tumours, the largest population-based specialist childhood cancer registry in the world. The book provides a detailed account of national incidence and survival rates for childhood cancer in Britain during 1991-2000, and trends during 1966-2000. There is also an account of childhood mortality for the period 1965-2004. The diagnoses are classified throughout according to the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, the first time the third edition of this standard classification has been used for prevalence of incidence, survival and mortality data. The chapter on incidence rates is relevant to planning of health service provision and design of research studies on aetiology, whilst the chapter on trends in incidence is relevant to the possible effects of changes in environmental and other risk factors. In addition to comprehensive tables of rates, age-incidence graphs are provided for all the major types of childhood cancer, and possible artefacts are also discussed. The survival data demonstrates how clinical progress over the past 40 years has led to a major increase in the number of cancer survivors. The role of the Registry, covering history, methodology, current and future uses, is also discussed. This definitive work is the culmination of decades of epidemiological research and is essential reading for anyone involved in paediatric oncology or cancer epidemiology.