THE PITUITARY 



tumour without acromegaly there may be manifested a peculiar 

 syndroma, characterized by the accumulation of fat and dis- 

 turbance of the genital functions degeneratio adiposo-genitalis. 

 Erdheim, however, is of the opinion that not only pituitary 

 tumours, but other growths in this region 

 of the base of the brain, may give rise to 

 a similar train of symptoms. Cf . Camus 

 and Roussy, p. 365. It is thought by 

 Fischer that the effects are due to damage 

 to, or destruction of, the posterior lobe of 

 the pituitary body. The experiments of 

 Gushing, however, would seem to teach 

 that it is deficiency of function of the 

 anterior lobe which leads to degeneratio 

 adiposo-genitalis. 



Dystrophia adiposo-genitalis (Degene- 

 ratio adiposo-genitalis). This condition, 

 sometimes known as Frohlich's syn- 

 drome, is very generally supposed to be 

 due to pituitary insufficiency. The 

 patient becomes obese and the fat has a 

 peculiar distribution. It is most abund- 

 ant on the abdomen, buttocks and the 

 proximal portions of the extremities. 

 (Figs. 101 and 102.) Dwarfism is a com- 

 mon condition, due to deficient skeletal 

 development. The genital organs remain 

 in the infantile state and the secondary 

 sexual characters do not develop. The 

 skin is in most cases thin, smooth, and soft. 



Infantilism. This term was first used 

 by Lasegne and the types generally 

 recognized are those of Lorain, Bris- 

 saud, and Variot and Pironneau. Lor- 

 ain's type is an infantilism in which the 

 proportions are like those in the adult 

 and there is a hypoplasia of heart and arteries. (Fig. 103.) 

 Brissaud's type was that due to thyroid deficiency and called the 

 myxcedematous type. Variot and Pironneau propose adding 

 another typeprogeria. Gilford proposes the following 

 classification : 



FIG. 103. Typical case 

 of Infantilism of 

 Lorain type with an 

 enlarged 2 cm. sella. 

 Patient aged 20 years 

 6 months. Height 4 

 ft. 4 in. j(after Cush- 

 ing.) 



