panhypopituitarism in which cachexia is a prominent feature; it usually follows destruction of the pituitary gland by surgery, infection, injury, or tumor, but may also occur after difficult labor in childbirth. Symptoms, which vary in intensity, are extreme weight loss, debility, pallor, dry yellowish skin, a slow pulse, hypotension, and atrophy of the genitalia and breasts, progressing to premature senility. Treatment is by regular administration of the various hormones whose release is normally dependent on pituitary function. Called also
pituitary cachexia.