[Endemic goiter and inflammatory lesions of the hypothalamus]

Inflammation of the hypothalamus, consisting of perivasal parvicellular sleeves between the paraventricular nucleus rostrally, the mamillary nuclei caudally, 3rd ventricle wall below the sulcus, medially and o sagittal plane taken a little beyond the column of the fornix laterally--i.e. in the space shown to include the hypophysothyrotropic structures by experimental physiopathology--was observed in a woman with endemic goitre. Reference is made to a similar finding in goitrous dogs from enzootic areas of Piedmon. Epidemiological and clinical considerations are put forwary for the view that endemic goitre is responsible for primary cerebral damage, perhaps of encephalitic origin.