mutations of specific genes (e.g., GHRHR, GH1) congenital diseases such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Turner syndrome,[8] or short stature homeobox gene (SHOX) deficiency[9] congenital malformations involving the pituitary (e.g., septo-optic dysplasia, posterior pituitary ectopia) chronic renal insufficiency[10] intracranial tumors in or near the sella turcica, especially craniopharyngioma damage to the pituitary from radiation therapy to the head (e.g. for leukemia or brain tumors), from surgery, from trauma, or from intracranial disease (e.g. hydrocephalus) autoimmune inflammation (hypophysitis) ischemic or hemorrhagic infarction from low blood pressure (Sheehan syndrome) or hemorrhage pituitary apoplexy