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Medical Definition of Hypophysial syndrome
1. A disorder characterised primarily by obesity and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism in adolescent boys; dwarfism is rare, and when present is thought to reflect hypothyroidism. Visual loss, behavioural abnormalities, and diabetes insipidus may occur. Frohlich's syndrome often is used synonymously for this disorder, although the original case involved a pituitary tumour; most cases are thought to result from hypothalamic dysfunction in areas regulating appetite and gonadal development. The most common causes are pituitary and hypothalamic neoplasms. Synonym: adiposis orchica, adiposogenital degeneration, adiposogenital dystrophy, adiposogenital syndrome, hypophysial syndrome, hypothalamic obesity with hypogonadism. Origin: L. Fr. G. Dys-, bad, + trophe, nourishment (05 Mar 2000)