Calcium and Phosphorus Metabolism in a Verified Case of Pituitary Basophilism

Patients with pituitary basophilism commonly have generalized demineralization of the skeleton. In some cases this is so severe that multiple fractures occur. The cause of this skeletal abnormality has been obscure. Cushing1suggested that the parathyroid bodies might be activated to excessive secretion by the pituitary lesion and thus cause the osteoporosis. In the majority of verified cases of pituitary basophilism the parathyroid glands when examined post mortem are described as being normal, fatty or atrophic. In several cases the parathyroid glands were enlarged but were found to be grossly infiltrated with fat, which contributed to their size. In only one case has a parathyroid adenoma been found.2Only in the case described in 1912 by Schmorl3and later by Molineus4has hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands been observed. The patient exhibited the clinical syndrome of pituitary basophilism and at postmortem examination was found to have a large basophil adenoma