A PITUITARY SYNDROME

Abstract

Cushing1described a syndrome known as the basophilic syndrome of the pituitary gland, the clincal characteristics of which are: (1) adiposity of the face and trunk, usually sparing the extremities; (2) amenorrhea, or sexual impotence in the male; (3) hypertrichosis of the face and trunk (masculine in type) in females and in adolescent males, and possibly the reverse in adult males; (4) dusky or plethoric skin, with purplish lineae atrophicae, acrocyanosis, cutis marmorata and purpura-like ecchymoses; (5) vascular hypertension; (6) a tendency to polycythemia and polynucleosis; (7) osteoporosis, with softening of the bones of the skeleton and kyphosis; (8) headache, pain in the back, asthenia and fatigability; (9) hyperglycemia and albuminuria, and (10) intracranial signs, with exophthalmos, diplopia, papilledema, dimness of vision, polyphagia, polydipsia and polyuria. Pardee2reported seven cases of pituitary basophilism, two of which presented the typical Cushing syndrome and five, so-called atypical or variable syndromes.