Endocrinopathy and Neoplastic Disease

The report published elsewhere in this issue of the Journal by Tranquada, Bender and Beigelman of a case of cecal carcinoma, hypoglycemia and testicular feminization represents another in a series of endocrinopathies associated with malignant processes. The typical clinical picture of hyperparathyroidism, of hyperadrenocorticism, of hyperaldosteronism, of abnormal production of sex hormones, of the carcinoid syndrome and of polycythemia (if the stimulus for this polycythemia is indeed a circulating humor) and, in this and previous reports, of hyperinsulinism, has in all been associated with malignant tumor. The challenge of correct diagnosis is presented to the clinician by these cases, but . . .