The endocrine glands after bilateral adrenalectomy compared with those in spontaneous adrenal insufficiency

A Possible Acth Secreting Tumour of the Pituitary Developing in a Conventionally Treated Case of Addison's Disease

“…The degree and nature of the radiological change in the sella turcica is such that a tumour of the pituitary most probably developed in this patient. The pituitary has been noted to be enlarged at autopsy in patients with untreated Addison's disease (Russfield, 1955). Radiological expansion of the sella in another case of Addison's disease has also been reported but without impaired pituitary function (Lloyd, 1963).…”

Steroid Replacement in Addison's Disease and in Subjects Adrenalectomized for Cushing's Disease: Comparison of Various Glucocorticoids*

“…Four patients on long term replacement therapy had undetectably low levels of ACTH even 36 h after glucocorticoid withdrawal. Enlargement of the pituitary fossa has been reported (5,6), and occasional pituitary tumors have been described after poor control of Addison's disease with short-acting glucocorticoids (7)(8)(9). For equivalent plasma glucocorticoid RRA activity, dexamethasone appeared 35-50 times as potent as hydrocortisone in terms of suppressing ACTH.…”

Physiology of the Thyroid Gland

“…41 It is not clear whether adrenal steroid production is increased or decreased in hyperthyroidism. 42 There is good evidence that increased plasma steroid concentrations decrease thyrotropin release and thus cause decreased thyroid activity.43 Such a phenomenon is observed frequently in patients treated with large rations of steroids. The latter fact is part of the conflicting evidence cited in support of the theory that formation of thyrotropin and ACTH is reciprocally related.…”