Treatment that affects the hypothalamus or pituitary gland increases the risk of neuroendocrine system late effects.

Childhood cancer survivors have an increased risk for neuroendocrine late effects. These effects are caused by radiation therapy to treat cancer in the brain near the hypothalamus or used as total-body irradiation before a stem cell transplant. The hypothalamus controls the way hormones are made and released into the bloodstream by the pituitary gland. These effects are also caused by surgery in the area of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, or optic pathways.