Is brain tumor recurrence increased following growth hormone treatment?

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency and resultant growth failure are common sequelae in children with brain tumors, often requiring treatment with GH. Several studies over the past decade have addressed the concern as to whether GH treatment in these children results in an increased rate of tumor recurrence. The findings in general are reassuring, although there are analytic problems with all the studies. This present article reviews the previously published studies, as well as the experience at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.