Symptoms are usually due to the hormones that are missing. In children, there may be growth problems -- either too much or too little growth -- or puberty that occurs too early or too late.

Tumor symptoms:

• Headaches
• Loss of vision

Hypothyroidism symptoms:

• Cold intolerance
• Constipation
• Depressed mood
• Fatigue
• Hair or skin changes
• Hoarseness
• Impotence
• Loss of body hair and muscle (in men)
• Mental slowing
• Menstrual cycle changes
• Weight gain

Low adrenal function symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Weakness

Other, less common symptoms may include:

• Body temperature problems
• Emotional problems
• Excess thirst
• Obesity
• Uncontrolled urination

Kallmann's syndrome (a type of hypothalamic dysfunction that occurs in men) symptoms:

• Lowered function of sexual hormones (hypogonadism)
• Inability to smell

Blood or urine tests to determine levels of hormones such as:

• Cortisol
• Estrogen
• Growth hormone
• Pituitary hormones
• Prolactin
• Testosterone
• Thyroid

Other possible tests:

• Hormone injections followed by timed blood samples
• MRI or CT scans of the brain
• Visual field eye exam (if there is a tumor)

Images

Central nervous system

Review Date: 11/23/2009
Reviewed By: Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)