Abstract

IT HAS been demonstrated that pituitary tumors, particularly chromophobe adenomas, can be produced experimentally in animals by prolonged administration of estrogens. This was shown by Cramer and Horning (1), Zondek (2, 3), and Wolfe and Wright (4). Experimental evidence has also been presented by Wolfe and Hamilton (5, 6) that androgens have an inhibitory effect on estrogens in pituitary physiology. However, the value of androgens in ameliorating the symptoms of intracranial pressure caused by a chromophobe adenoma in man has not yet been demonstrated.

The case described here is of interest because of the possible inhibitory effect of testosterone propionate on a pituitary tumor, clinically of the chromophobe type.

CASE REPORT

The patient, W. J., (Fig. 1) a eunuchoid male, 24 years of age, was admitted to the Endocrine Clinic of the Pasadena Dispensary on March 24,1939. He stated that he had had normal development and hair growth at 15 years of age, having been examined by a school physician at that time. Soon after that he noticed testicular atrophy with gradual disappearance of pubic and axillary hair.

This content is only available as a PDF.
You do not currently have access to this article.