Extrasellar masses may interfere with any aspect of gonadotrophin secretion or GnRH stimulation. Virtually all patients who have tumours in this area, however, have more than gonadotrophin deficiency; they may have any or all other pituitary deficiencies or, in the case of a prolactin-secreting adenoma, an increase in the secretion of prolactin. These deficiencies usually occur later in childhood than congenital defects and are characterised as acquired pituitary deficiencies ΓÇô a more ominous sign than congenital pituitary deficiencies.
