Clinical Trial: An Investigation of Pituitary Tumors and Related Hypothalmic Disorders

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: A Clinical and Genetic Investigation of Pituitary and HYPOTHALAMIC Tumors and Related Disorders

Brief Summary:

There is a variety of tumors affecting the pituitary gland in childhood; some of these tumors (eg craniopharyngioma) are included among the most common central nervous system tumors in childhood. The gene(s) involved in the pathogenesis of these tumors are largely not known; their possible association with other developmental defects or inheritance pattern(s) has not been investigated. The present study serves as a (i) screening/training, and, (ii) a research protocol.

As a screening and training study, this protocol allows our Institute to admit children with tumors of the hypothalamic-pituitary unit to the pediatric endocrine clinics and wards of the NIH Clinical Center for the purposes of

(i)<TAB>training our fellows and students in the identification of genetic defects associated with pituitary tumor formation, and

(ii)<TAB>teaching our fellows and students the recognition, management and complications of pituitary tumors

As a research study, this protocol aims at

(i)<TAB>developing new clinical studies for the recognition and therapy of pituitary tumors; as an example, two new studies have emerged within the context of this protocol: (a) investigation of a new research magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tool and its usefulness in the identification of pituitary tumors, and (b) investigation of the psychological effects of cortisol secretion in pediatric patients with Cushing disease. Continuation of this protocol will eventually lead to new, separate protocols that will address all aspects of diagnosis of pituitary tumors and their therapy in childhood.

(ii)<TAB>Identifying the genetic components of

Detailed Summary:

There are a variety of tumors affecting the pituitary gland; The gene(s) involved in the pathogenesis of these tumors are largely not known; their possible association with other developmental defects or inheritance pattern(s) has not been investigated. The present study serves as a (i) screening/training, and, (ii) a research protocol.

As a screening and training study, this protocol allows our Institute to admit patients with tumors of the hypothalamic-pituitary unit to the clinics and wards of the NIH Clinical Center for the purposes of:

(i) Training our fellows and students in the identification of genetic defects associated with pituitary tumor formation, and

(ii) Teaching our fellows and students the recognition, management and complications of pituitary tumors

As a research study, this protocol aims at:

(i) Developing new clinical studies for the recognition and therapy of pituitary tumors; as an example, two new studies have emerged within the context of this protocol: (a) investigation of a new research magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tool and its usefulness in the identification of pituitary tumors, and (b) investigation of the psychological effects of cortisol secretion in pediatric (only) patients with Cushing disease. Continuation of this protocol will eventually lead to new, separate protocols that will address all aspects of diagnosis of pituitary tumors and their therapy in childhood.

(ii) Identifying the genetic components of pituitary oncogenesis; those will be investigated by (a) studying the inheritance pattern of pituitary tumors in childhood and their possible association with other conditions in the fam
Sponsor: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Current Primary Outcome:

Original Primary Outcome:

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

Dates:
Date Received: November 3, 1999
Date Started: February 13, 1997
Date Completion:
Last Updated: April 20, 2017
Last Verified: April 4, 2017