Complications

Complication
Timeframe
Likelihood
variable
high

Seen in 75% of patients.

Reflects direct tumour damage and surgical/radiotherapy morbidity.[56][58][62][82][83]

Treated by replacement therapy.

Growth hormone deficiency in children

variable
high

Seen in 75% of patients.

Reflects direct tumour damage and surgical/radiotherapy morbidity.[56][58][62][82][83]

Treated by replacement therapy.

Hypogonadism in men

variable
high

Seen in 70% of children, 50% of adults.

Reflects direct tumour damage and surgical/radiotherapy morbidity.[56][82][83]

Treated by replacement therapy.

Arginine vasopressin deficiency or resistance (Diabetes insipidus)

variable
high

Seen in 25% of patients.

Reflects direct tumour damage and surgical/radiotherapy morbidity.[56][82][83]

Treated by replacement therapy.

variable
high

Seen in 25% of patients.

Reflects direct tumour damage and surgical/radiotherapy morbidity.[56][58][62][82][83]

Treated by replacement therapy.

Central hypothyroidism

variable
medium

Seen in more than 80% of patients.

Reflects injury by tumour and surgical morbidity.[56][59][60]

Assessment of vision loss

variable
low

Seen in 15% to 25% of patients.

Reflects direct tumour damage and surgical/radiotherapy morbidity.[21][38][56][81]

May manifest as hyperphagia resulting in obesity, and neurobehavioural abnormalities.

variable
low

Seen in 10% to 20% of patients.

Reflects injury by tumour and surgical morbidity.

Treatment with anticonvulsants is indicated.[84]

Overview of seizure disorder

variable
low

Seen in more than 35% of patients.

Reflects injury by tumour and surgical/radiotherapy morbidity.[60][83][85]

Includes short-term memory loss and personality change.

Rehabilitation should be considered, and regular monitoring and long-term follow-up are essential.[84]

The cognitive risks of administering radiotherapy to young children, means that this may be delayed until there is evidence of progression in selected individuals.[26]

variable
low

Seen in more than 25% of patients.

Reflects injury by tumour and surgical/radiotherapy morbidity.[79][83][85]

variable
low

Seen in approximately 20% of patients.

Increased risk reflects increased prevalence of risk factors (obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome) associated with endocrine dysfunction.[85]

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