EPIPHYSIAL DYSGENESIS ASSOCIATED WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM

Clinical reports of the abnormalities of epiphysial ossification which occur in hypothyroidism during childhood have been recorded in the Swiss or German literature by Läwen¹ in 1909 (1 case), Roth² in 1918 (3 cases), von Seemen³ in 1928 (2 cases) and Looser⁴ in 1929. Von Seemen called the condition "osteochondropathia cretinoidea." Looser described the abnormal structure of the epiphyses in 20 of 30 cretins whom he examined in Switzerland. In 1927 Fairbank,⁵ in England, reported instances of dwarfism with "stippled epiphyses" but failed to recognize the thyroid disturbance. There are few reports in the American literature. Brailsford,⁶ in 1935, mentioned 1 case in a monograph on radiology. Cavanaugh, Shelton and Sutherland,⁷ in 1936, reported 5 cases of osteochondritis of the capital femoral epiphyses which they considered due to hypothyroidism. However, in all their cases the condition was unilateral, dysgenesis was not found in