Related Experiment Videos
Cushing's case XLV: Minnie G.
Giuseppe Lanzino1, Niki F Maartens, Edward R Laws
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, USA. glanzino@hotmail.com
Journal of Neurosurgery
|July 24, 2002
Summary
Harvey Cushing's interest in Cushing's syndrome was sparked by "Minnie G.," a patient with obesity, hypertrichosis, and amenorrhea. This case led to his seminal 1932 report on pituitary basophilism.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neurology
- Medical History
Background:
- Harvey Cushing's seminal 1932 report, "The basophil adenomas of the pituitary gland and their clinical manifestations (pituitary basophilism)," detailed cases of pituitary dysfunction.
- The report was significantly influenced by an initial patient encounter in 1910.
Observation:
- A 23-year-old female patient, historically known as "Minnie G.," presented with a complex syndrome in 1910.
- Her symptoms included painful obesity, hypertrichosis, amenorrhea, and precocious development of secondary sexual characteristics.
- Additional findings were a low-grade hydrocephalus and increased intracranial pressure.
Findings:
- Minnie G.'s case was the first reported by Cushing and is reviewed herein.
- Her presentation provided the initial impetus for Cushing's extensive research into pituitary basophilism.
- The article briefly reviews the clinical course of this pivotal case.
Implications:
- This historical case underscores the importance of early clinical observations in advancing medical understanding.
- It highlights the foundational role of individual patient cases in defining complex endocrine and neurological disorders.
- The review contributes to the historical context of Cushing's syndrome and pituitary adenoma research.