Selective neuroanatomical alterations in children with growth hormone deficiency: a volumetric MRI analysis using automated segmentation

Özyılmaz S., Özyılmaz L. G. B., Çeliker D., KIRMIZIBEKMEZ H., Taşar S.

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, cilt.39, sa.6, ss.582-590, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 39 Sayı: 6
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1515/jpem-2025-0678
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.582-590
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: growth hormone deficiency, brain volumetry, MRI, volBrain, neurodevelopment
  • Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objectives: To quantitatively evaluate global and regional brain volumes in children with biochemically confirmed growth hormone deficiency (GHD) using standardized volumetric MRI. Methods: This retrospective case–control study included 64 children with isolated GHD (43 boys, 21 girls; mean age, 11.4 ± 3.2 years) and 64 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. High-resolution 3D T1-weighted MRI scans were processed using the volBrain automated segmentation pipeline. Global, cortical, and subcortical volumes were normalized to intracranial cavity volume (ICV). Group differences were analyzed with age-, sex-, and ICV-adjusted models, corrected for multiple comparisons (FDR<0.05). Results Children with GHD exhibited significantly smaller gray matter (750.6 ± 92.3 vs. 789.0 ± 88.5 cm3; q=0.002) and total brain (1,204.3 ± 124.9 vs. 1,259.2 ± 118.6 cm3; q=0.003) volumes compared with controls, while white matter volume was preserved. Regionally, hippocampal (q=0.02), thalamic (q=0.03), and caudate (q=0.04) volumes were smaller in GHD. ICV-normalized models showed reduced gray matter and limbic shares, with relatively higher thalamic and white matter proportions. Differences were more pronounced in prepubertal subjects and partially attenuated during puberty. Conclusions: Pediatric GHD is associated with selective reductions in gray matter–dominant and limbic–striatal regions, with relative preservation of white matter. Quantitative volumetric MRI provides a reproducible biomarker framework for assessing GH-related neurodevelopmental alterations.