Calcified pituitary concretions in the newborn.

Anterior pituitary glands from 200 fetuses and infants ranging in age from 22 weeks' gestation to one year of life were examined histologically for the presence of concretions. Characteristically these are round, lamellated bodies, often strongly basophilic, containing phosphates and measuring between 10 micrometer and 70 micrometer in diameter. They decreased in incidence postnatally and were rarely seen 6 months after birth. It is suggested that these concretions are a degenerative change in cells subject to the vigorous secretory activity that is part of the normal physiology of the anterior lobe of the pituitary from mid-gestation.