Hypothalamic and Pituitary Tumour (HPT) Service

Sheffield Children’s Hospital provides a highly specialised service for children with hypothalamic and pituitary tumours.

 

The service is co-led by Professor Paul Dimitri, Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology and Mr. Saurabh Sinha, Consultant in Paediatric Neurosurgery who is nationally recognised as a paediatric trans-sphenoidal surgeon.

The service has been designed to provide the multi-disciplinary in-patient and out-patient management of children and young people who have tumours in or near the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. Patients are assessed by a dedicated team of specialists to determine the mode of treatment required which may include radiotherapy or surgery. Endocrine services include pre- and post-operative endocrine (hormonal) testing and long-term specialist management of the hormonal complications secondary to hypothalamic and pituitary tumours. Long-term follow-up also includes dedicated neurosurgical support.

 

The team are also part of the national hypothalamic-pituitary axis tumour (HPAT) multidisciplinary team that meet on a monthly basis to discuss complex cases, treatment and the development of national guidelines for the management of hypothalamic and pituitary tumours.

Patients can be referred from your local GP. Our service will see patients through local, regional and national referral.

Visiting the HPT clinic

Our dedicated hypothalamic and pituitary tumour clinic takes place every month in the outpatients department at Sheffield Children’s Hospital where you will see Professor Dimitri and Mr. Sinha. On the same day as the clinic your child may also need an MRI scan and may also be sent for other investigations.

Further support

Our team of dedicated Clinical Nurse Specialist in Paediatric Endocrinology will be there to support your child’s endocrine care and answer any questions relating to the hormonal complications relating to pituitary and hypothalamic tumours. Our Clinical Nurse Specialists also carry out many of the important investigations that your child may require. When your child is asked to attend the Medical Daycare Unit for investigations they may be asked to fast from food prior to these investigations. Please check with your nurse or Doctor about this.