Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Ultrasound (US) thyroid examination is the most common method to assess thyroid nodules risk of malignancy and select nodules for fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Thyroid US evaluation performed by endocrinologists has recently increased in Spain.Objectives: To evaluate the predictive value of US features of malignancy in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid lesions in a Thyroid Nodule Clinic.Patients and...

Introduction: 5 Alpha reductase deficiency (5-ARD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder causing disturbance of sex development. 5 Alpha reductase is an enzyme involved in steroid metabolism, catalyzing testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), its potent form. 5-ARD therefore results in lower DHT and higher testosterone values. DHT is crucial for the differentiation of the urogenital sinus and genital tubercle into the external genitalia, urethra and prostate, while the v...

IntroductionAdrenal insufficiency is a clinical condition that leads to depletion of glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and androgens. While in men adrenal androgen deficiency is not clinically significant for testicular testosterone synthesis, in women so far androgen treatment is suggested for the reduction of libido and depression. However, no data is currently available on female sexual function.Primary endpoints<p class="...

IntroductionParathyroid carcinoma is a rare endocrine carcinoma, which represents less than 1% of all cases of primary hyperparathyroidism. It usually affects people between 44–55 years old without differences between sexes. Sometimes it is related to HRPT2 gene mutations and it has a variable prognosis.Presentation of caseA 56-year-old man was referred to our centre to complete an hypercalcemia study. H...

Background: Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is rare, usually presenting with hyperparathyroidism and severe hypercalcemia. A standardized diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic approach has not been provided yet and TNM staging algorithm is not universally accepted. Surgery is the first-choice treatment and is the only effective therapy to control hypercalcaemia. Chemo- or radio-therapy, local treatments or novel drugs should be reserved to selected cases.Cas...

Introduction: Total thyroidectomy (TT) plus central neck compartment (CC) lymphnode dissection is still the recommended initial gold standard treatment for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), even in the absence of a pre-surgical positive neck US evidence of lymphnode metastases. Considering the risk of surgical complications of this prophylactic surgery and the low rate of histologic finding of CC lymphnode metastases, a more tailored lymphnode’ surgery should be proposed. A...

Introduction: Despite its neuroendocrine origin, only recently an international study group proposed a dedicated grading system (IMTCGS) for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). IMTCGS is an independent and powerful tool able to predict disease specific survival (DSS) as well as distant metastasis-free (DMFS) and locoregional recurrence-free survivals (LRFS), regardless of other risk factors, including staging.Objectives: To evaluate the performance of IMT...

Background: Distant metastases at diagnosis is the worst prognostic factor for disease specific survival (DSS) in sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Also, lymph node metastases are negative prognostic factors both for DSS and recurrence free survival (RFS). The question whether central (N1a) and latero-cervical compartment lymph nodes metastasis (N1b), separately evaluated, can have a different impact on DSS and RFS remains to be clarified.Patie...

Introduction: RET gene is responsible for various human cancers and is mutated and hyperactivated in nearly 100% of familial (germline mutation) and in about 60% of sporadic (somatic mutation) MTC cases. Moreover, RET gene play a role in several physiologic and pathologic conditions. Very recently, the hyperfunction of RET was found to be a key process in weight loss. The hypothesis is that in a peculiar population in which RET gene is mutated and constitutively activated from...

Background: Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal cortex and is essential for the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis. Cortisol activation is catalysed by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) and excess cortisol is associated with insulin resistance and hyperglycaemia. Previous studies from our group have shown that Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, a gastrointestinal procedure known to improve insulin sensitivity, causes cortisol inhibi...