Does Postpartum Hypopituitarism Influence the Craniofacial Pattern? A Case-Control Study with Sheehan’s Syndrome Patients

Davi de Sá Cavalcante; Ana Rosa Pinto Quidute; Manoel Ricardo Alves Martins; Francisco Samuel Rodrigues Carvalho; Adília Mirela Pereira Cid; Paulo Goberlanio de Barros Silva; Andrea Silvia Walter de Aguiar; Thyciana Rodrigues Ribeiro & Fábio Wildson Gurgel Costa

Summary

This study aimed to assess the craniofacial morphologic aspects of Sheehan’s syndrome (SHS) patients.An observational study was performed with 19 women diagnosed with SHS and 19 controls matched by age and sex. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained, and 30 linear and angular measurements were analyzed using the Radiocef Studio 2 software. The mean age of patients was 65.47 ± 10.19 years. The main findings were propositioned maxilla (52.63 %) and mandible (52.63 %) relative to the cranial base, mandibular prognathism in 73.68 %, deep growth pattern in 42.1 %, increased mandibular plane in 36.84 %, and reduction in anterior facial height. The SHS group showed statistically significant differences in SNB (p=0.026), N-Me (p=0.006), soft palate length (p=0.011), and Ena-Me (p<0.001) in comparison with controls. The standard deviation score analysis revealed altered values in relation to total maxillary and mandibular lengths. SHS showed altered craniofacial morphology, characterized by maxillo-mandibular prognathism, brachyfacial type, increased mandibular plane, and reduction in soft palate length. This study reports novel findings in SHS.

KEY WORDS: hypopituitarism, cephalometrics, dentofacial anomalies, Sheehan’s syndrome.

How to cite this article

CAVALCANTE, D. S.; QUIDUTE, A. R. P.; MARTINS, M. R. A.; CARVALHO, F. S. R.; CID, A. M. P.; SILVA, P. G. B.; AGUIAR, A. S. W.; RIBEIRO, T. R.; COSTA, F. W. G. Does postpartum hypopituitarism influence the craniofacial pattern? A case-control study with Sheehan’s syndrome patients. Int. J. Odontostomat., 17(1):38-45, 2023.