BASOPHILIC SYNDROME OF THE PITUITARY

Abstract

During the past decade the hormonal physiology of the gland has been enriched by conclusive evidence from the research laboratory. These studies have more than confirmed the results of numerous clinical observations, beginning with Pierre Marie's description of acromegaly in 1892. However, the clinical story has not yet been fully told, for in the past year Cushing 1 described a new syndrome which he called pituitary basophilism. This is a striking clinical picture associated in most instances with a verified adenoma of the basophil cells of the anterior lobe. He has so convincingly established this entity that, though it may be elaborated further, it will remain as the outstanding Cushing syndrome. I present a number of cases with the desire to confirm Cushing's observations and to show that the basophilic symptoms and signs may predominate in other syndromes, not all necessarily associated with an adenoma of the basophil