ADRENOGENITAL SYNDROME 353 



androgenic zone in male mice following castration. In both 

 cases there is a compensatory hypertrophy of a masculinizing 

 tissue (the androgenic zone) as a consequence of a congenital or 

 induced dysfunction of the normal reproductive system. 



OTHER CONDITIONS RESEMBLING THE ADRENO-GENITAL 

 SYNDROME 



Two other clinical conditions occurring in women are charac- 

 terized by a symptom-complex which is practically identical 

 to the adrenal virilism described in the preceding section. 

 These conditions are the "diabetes of bearded women" de- 

 scribed by Achard and Thiers 6 and Cushing's syndrome. 142 

 According to most observers these two syndromes are identical. 

 Achard and Thier's symptom-complex is marked by hyper- 

 trichosis of the face, obesity, glycosuria with decreased carbo- 

 hydrate tolerance, hypertension, and usually amenorrhea. At 

 autopsy, a pronounced hyperplasia of the adrenals has been 

 noted. It is probable that this adrenal hyperplasia represents 

 an hypertrophy of the androgenic tissue which is in part at 

 least responsible for the observed masculinization. 



Cushing's syndrome is characterized by a rapidly acquired 

 and usually painful adiposity, confined to the face, neck, and 

 trunk, the extremities being spared; a tendency to become 

 round shouldered, associated with lumbo-spinal pains; sexual 

 dystrophy, shown by early amenorrhea and sterility; hyper- 

 trichosis of the face and trunk; a dusky or plethoric appear- 

 ance of the skin with purplish striae distensae of the abdomen 

 and legs; vascular hypertension; acrocyanosis; and osteo- 

 porosis. 



In Cushing's earlier reports, 142 he attributed the above 

 described disorders to basophilic adenomata of the pituitary 

 which were present in his patients. However, more recently, 

 cases have been reported which were clinically indistinguishable 

 from Cushing's syndrome, but in which at autopsy no disorders 

 of the pituitary were found. Instead, an adrenal tumor was 



