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Endocrine Abstracts (2021) 73 AEP532 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.73.AEP532

1Klinikum der Universität München, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, München, Germany; 2Helios Amper-Klinikum Dachau, Department of Neurology, Dachau, Germany; 3Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, München, Germany; 4Klinikum der Universität München, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology (IBE), München, Germany; 5MEDICOVER München Neuroendokrinologie Prof. Stalla und Kollegen, München, Germany


Introduction

Craniopharyngiomas are rare and benign tumours of the suprasellar region along the craniopharyngeal duct. Their clinical manifestations result from tumour compression or therapy-induced damage of the surrounding tissue, namely visual impairment, pituitary deficiencies and increased intracranial pressure. Hypothalamic damage often leads to central obesity and fatigue. The impact of these changes on quality of life and body perception has been well described in the literature, but specific analyses of gender differences are scarce.

Methods

We assessed eating-related behaviour and traits in 26 patients with craniopharyngioma (15 female, 11 male) in a cross-sectional study using standardized questionnaires (Three-Factor-Eating-Questionnaire, TFEQ; Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, EDE-Q; Body Image Questionnaire FKB-20). We calculated group comparisons using the chi square test or Mann-Whitney U test with a significance threshold of 0.05.

Results

Female and male patients did not statistically differ in terms of age (mean 51.1 [range: 32-68] vs. 55.6 [26-77] years), BMI (32.1 [19.5-47.9] vs. 31.3 [23.9-41.0] kg/sqm), frequency of surgery or radiation, and pituitary deficiencies. Female patients had nominally, but not significantly higher insulin sensitivity as assessed by Matsuda ISI (f: 4.0 [0.9-17.3]; m: 2.4 [0.8-5.3]). Global score from EDE-Q was significantly higher in female patients (2.3 [0.8-3.7] vs. 0.9 [0.1-1.7]; p=0.002) as were the subscales eating concern (2.8 [0-5] vs. 0.9 [0-2]; p=0.001) and shape concern (3.2 [0.0-5.8] vs. 1.4 [0.0-2.9]; p=0.009). Women in our cohort also exhibited a significantly higher negative body assessment (AKB score in FKB-20; 32.2 [15-48] vs. 18.6 [11-28]; p=0.001) and significantly lower vital body dynamic (23.2 [15-35] vs. 31.2 [21-44]; p=0.007). Cognitive control of eating behaviour is increased in female patients (11.3 [4-20] vs. 7.1 [1-15]; p=0.042).

Conclusions

Female patients with craniopharyngioma exhibit a significantly impaired eating behaviour, body perception and cognitive concern with eating as compared to male patients. The reasons for these differences remain to be elucidated.

Volume 73

European Congress of Endocrinology 2021

Online
22 May 2021 - 26 May 2021

European Society of Endocrinology 

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