꾆 Takeaway Even though Barrow ruled out pituitary-driven Cushing’s, the hypothalamus above it could be the root. A compressive effect there could produce symptoms that look endocrine, neurologic, and autonomic all at once— which perfectly matches Amy’s profile.
These are the main categories of conditions that can affect the hypothalamus and potentially explain Amy’s symptoms.
꾆 Conditions That Can Affect the Hypothalamus 1. Tumors, Cysts & Growths • Craniopharyngioma – benign, slow-growing tumor that often arises near the hypothalamus/pituitary stalk; can press on surrounding structures. • Hypothalamic or Optic Glioma – more common in younger people but can occur in adults; may cause vision problems and hormonal disturbances. • Meningioma – benign tumor of the meninges that can grow near the hypothalamus. 2. Cysts & Benign Lesions • Rathke’s Cleft Cyst – benign fluid-filled cyst in the pituitary region, sometimes compressing the hypothalamus. • Arachnoid Cyst – cerebrospinal-fluid filled sac that can form near the hypothalamus. • Colloid Cyst (of the third ventricle) – rare but can press on the hypothalamus and cause sudden dizziness, headaches, or balance issues.
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