Pituitary Disorders in Children: How the Pituitary Gland Affects Growth and Development

Medically Reviewed by Dr Devin Stone ND Updated: 05/30/2026

The pituitary gland is often called the “master gland” of the body because it controls many of the hormones responsible for growth, puberty, metabolism, and development. When the pituitary gland does not function properly, children may experience growth problems, delayed puberty, hormone deficiencies, and other health concerns.

For families seeking answers about short stature, poor growth velocity, low IGF-1, or delayed development, evaluating pituitary function is often an important part of the diagnostic process.

At HGHforChildren.com, we help families identify whether an underlying pituitary disorder may be contributing to their child’s growth concerns and determine what testing or treatment options may be appropriate.

What Is the Pituitary Gland?

The pituitary gland is a small pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain beneath the hypothalamus.

Despite its small size, it produces hormones that regulate:

  • Growth
  • Puberty
  • Thyroid function
  • Adrenal function
  • Reproduction
  • Water balance
  • Metabolism

Because the pituitary influences multiple hormone systems, disorders affecting this gland can have widespread effects throughout the body.

How Does the Pituitary Gland Affect Growth?

One of the pituitary gland’s most important functions is producing Growth Hormone (GH).

Growth hormone stimulates the liver to produce IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1), which helps regulate:

  • Bone growth
  • Growth plate activity
  • Muscle development
  • Height progression

When the pituitary gland does not produce enough growth hormone, children may experience:

  • Poor growth velocity
  • Shortest in class
  • Delayed bone age
  • Delayed puberty
  • Low IGF-1 levels

Common Pituitary Disorders in Children

Several pituitary disorders can affect childhood growth and development.

Growth Hormone Deficiency

The most common pituitary-related growth disorder is Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD).

Children with growth hormone deficiency may have:

  • Slow growth
  • Falling height percentiles
  • Delayed bone age
  • Low IGF-1
  • Delayed puberty

Growth hormone deficiency may be:

Congenital

Present from birth.

Acquired

Developing later due to injury, tumors, inflammation, or other pituitary abnormalities.

Hypopituitarism

Hypopituitarism occurs when the pituitary gland fails to produce one or more hormones adequately.

Affected hormones may include:

  • Growth hormone
  • Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
  • Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Children may experience:

  • Growth failure
  • Delayed puberty
  • Fatigue
  • Low energy
  • Hormonal imbalances

The severity depends on how many hormones are affected.

Pituitary Tumors

Pituitary tumors are uncommon in children but can occasionally interfere with hormone production.

Most pediatric pituitary tumors are benign.

Examples include:

  • Pituitary adenomas
  • Rathke cleft cysts
  • Craniopharyngiomas

Symptoms vary depending on:

  • Tumor size
  • Hormones involved
  • Pressure on nearby structures

Craniopharyngioma

A craniopharyngioma is a benign tumor that develops near the pituitary gland.

Although non-cancerous, it can affect:

These tumors are one of the more common structural causes of pediatric hypopituitarism.

Pituitary Structural Abnormalities

Some children are born with abnormalities involving:

  • Pituitary development
  • Pituitary stalk formation
  • Midline brain structures

These conditions may impair normal hormone production and growth.

Symptoms of Pituitary Disorders in Children

The symptoms vary depending on which hormones are affected.

Common signs include:

Growth Symptoms

  • Poor growth velocity
  • Short stature
  • Falling growth percentiles
  • Delayed bone age

Puberty Symptoms

  • Delayed puberty
  • Lack of pubertal progression
  • Delayed sexual development

Hormonal Symptoms

  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Low energy
  • Increased sensitivity to cold
  • Excessive thirst or urination

Neurologic Symptoms

In some cases:

  • Headaches
  • Vision changes
  • Visual field defects

may occur when structural abnormalities are present.

What Causes Pituitary Disorders?

Several factors may contribute to pituitary dysfunction.

Congenital Causes

Some children are born with:

  • Pituitary hypoplasia
  • Pituitary stalk abnormalities
  • Genetic hormone deficiencies

Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries may occasionally affect pituitary hormone production.

Tumors

Pituitary and nearby brain tumors can interfere with hormone secretion.

Radiation Therapy

Children treated for certain cancers may experience pituitary dysfunction following radiation exposure.

Autoimmune and Inflammatory Conditions

Rare inflammatory disorders can affect pituitary function and hormone production.

How Are Pituitary Disorders Diagnosed?

A comprehensive evaluation typically includes:

Growth Chart Review

Providers assess:

  • Height percentile
  • Weight percentile
  • Growth velocity
  • Growth patterns over time

Growth trends often provide the earliest clues.

Laboratory Testing

Common growth hormone testing studies include:

Growth Evaluation

  • IGF-1
  • IGFBP-3

Thyroid Evaluation

  • TSH
  • Free T4

Puberty Evaluation

  • LH
  • FSH
  • Testosterone
  • Estradiol

Adrenal Evaluation

  • Cortisol
  • ACTH

Laboratory testing helps determine which hormone systems may be affected.

Bone Age X-Ray

Bone age frequently reveals:

  • Delayed skeletal maturation
  • Remaining growth potential

Children with pituitary disorders commonly have delayed bone age.

Growth Hormone Stimulation Testing

When growth hormone deficiency is suspected, stimulation testing is often performed.

This specialized evaluation measures the body's ability to release growth hormone under controlled conditions.

Growth hormone stimulation testing remains the gold standard for diagnosing growth hormone deficiency.

Pituitary MRI

A pituitary MRI is one of the most important imaging studies when pituitary dysfunction is suspected.

MRI can identify:

  • Pituitary tumors
  • Pituitary hypoplasia
  • Pituitary stalk abnormalities
  • Structural brain abnormalities

MRI findings often help guide treatment decisions.

What Is a Pituitary MRI?

A pituitary MRI is a specialized pituitary imaging study that provides detailed images of the pituitary gland and surrounding structures.

Physicians may recommend MRI when a child has:

  • Confirmed growth hormone deficiency
  • Multiple hormone deficiencies
  • Severe growth failure
  • Abnormal stimulation testing
  • Neurologic symptoms

MRI helps determine whether a structural cause is contributing to hormonal abnormalities.

Treatment of Pituitary Disorders

Treatment depends on the specific diagnosis.

Growth Hormone Therapy

Children with confirmed growth hormone deficiency often benefit from growth hormone replacement therapy.

Treatment may improve:

  • Growth velocity
  • Height outcomes
  • Bone development
  • Body composition

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Additional hormone replacement may include:

Thyroid Hormone

For thyroid hormone deficiencies.

Cortisol Replacement

For ACTH deficiencies.

Puberty Hormones

When delayed puberty results from pituitary dysfunction.

Surgical Treatment

Certain pituitary tumors may require:

  • Neurosurgical evaluation
  • Tumor removal
  • Specialized endocrine care

Treatment is individualized based on tumor type and size.

Can Pituitary Disorders Affect Adult Height?

Yes.

Untreated pituitary hormone deficiencies can significantly impact:

  • Growth velocity
  • Pubertal timing
  • Final adult height

Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment often provide the best opportunity to optimize growth outcomes.

When Should Parents Seek Evaluation?

Consider a pediatric growth evaluation if your child has:

  • Poor growth velocity
  • Low IGF-1
  • Delayed bone age
  • Delayed puberty
  • Short stature
  • Growth hormone deficiency concerns
  • Multiple hormone abnormalities
  • Unexplained growth failure

Early evaluation may identify pituitary disorders before significant growth potential is lost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the pituitary gland do?

The pituitary gland controls hormones responsible for growth, puberty, metabolism, thyroid function, adrenal function, and reproduction.

Can pituitary disorders cause short stature?

Yes. Pituitary disorders are one of the most important causes of growth hormone deficiency and poor growth.

Does every child with low IGF-1 have a pituitary disorder?

No. Low IGF-1 can result from several causes including delayed puberty, nutritional deficiencies, and constitutional growth delay.

Is a pituitary MRI always necessary?

Not always. MRI is typically recommended when laboratory testing suggests pituitary dysfunction or growth hormone deficiency.

Can pituitary disorders be treated?

Yes. Many pituitary disorders respond well to hormone replacement therapies and specialized endocrine care.

Why Families Choose HGHforChildren.com

At HGHforChildren.com, we specialize in evaluating children with:

  • Pituitary Disorders
  • Growth Hormone Deficiency
  • Low IGF-1
  • Delayed Bone Age
  • Delayed Puberty
  • Poor Growth Velocity
  • Constitutional Growth Delay
  • Idiopathic Short Stature

Our comprehensive approach helps families understand the root cause of growth concerns and identify evidence-based treatment options designed to maximize growth potential.

Medical References

  1. Pituitary Society
  2. Pediatric Endocrine Society – Growth and Pituitary Disorders Resources
  3. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Pituitary Information
  4. National Library of Medicine (PubMed) Pituitary Disorders Research
  5. Merck Manual – Pituitary Disorders in Children

Medically Reviewed By

Dr. Devin Stone, ND
Founder, HGHforChildren.com

Dr. Devin Stone is a naturopathic doctor specializing in pediatric growth disorders, hormone deficiencies, growth hormone deficiency, delayed bone age, delayed puberty, pituitary evaluation, and evidence-based growth optimization. He works with families nationwide to investigate the underlying causes of growth concerns and develop individualized plans designed to help children reach their full growth potential.

Last Medically Reviewed: May 2026