Journal of the American Medical Association · 1958 · 10 citations · 0 references
MedicineEndocrinologyOncologyDiabetologyEndocrine OncologyEndocrine PharmacotherapyDiabetes MellitusPituitary DisordersPituitary TumorsVasopressor TherapyDiabetes Insipidus SyndromesPituitary CarcinomaPituitary DysfunctionPituitary Endocrine DisordersPituitary InvolvementPituitary PathologyPituitary Tumor PathologyPosterior Pituitary Hormones
Diabetes insipidus should be considered a symptom. It is usually chronic, but it may be acute and temporary. The case to be reported exemplifies the chronic, secondary type of diabetes insipidus. It was due to metastatic cancer to the pituitary stalk; it was occult but suspected of being malignant and treated as such because of a lack of therapeutic responses with the usual modalities. <h3>Report of a Case</h3> A 68-year-old female had been suffering for six months from diabetes insipidus, diagnosed elsewhere. The lack of response to therapy with vasopressin (Pitressin) tannate in oil and inhalations of posterior pituitary powder as a snuff was responsible for reference to our clinic for evaluation. She had weighed 142 lb. (64.4 kg.) when the symptoms began; she was 62 in. ( 157.5 cm. ) tall and weighed 100 lb. (45.4 kg.) when seen by us. She stated that, for several months before and continuously after