A Case of Hypothalamic Obesity

Abstract

Hypothalamus plays a key role in satiety and food intake. Damage to the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus bilaterally can lead to a syndrome of hypothalamic obesity. This condition is characterized by hyperphagia and obesity along with other endocrinal and neurological manifestations. Suprasellar tumors like craniopharyngioma can often damage the hypothalamus leading to such a syndrome. Here, we report a case of a middle age male who presented to our endocrinology outpatient department with complaints of hyperphagia and massive weight gain over a period of 4-5 years. On hormonal evaluation, he was found to have panhypopituitarism along with central diabetes insipidus. Magnetic resonance imaging was suggestive of a suprasellar craniopharyngioma. Patient underwent craniotomy with subtotal resection of the tumor followed by radiotherapy for the residual lesion. Hypothalamus as a cause of obesity, though rare should be considered in patients who present with characteristic signs and symptoms of hypothalamic obesity.