Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2017) 50 P285 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.50.P285

SFEBES2017 Poster Presentations Neuroendocrinology and Pituitary (42 abstracts)

Prevalence of paraganglioma at first screen in SDH mutation carriers identified through family screening

Isra Ahmed Mohamed 1 , Anand Velusamy 1 , Louise Izatt 2 , Adrian Li 1 , Mamta Joshi 1 , Louise Breen 1 , Barbara McGowan 1 , Jake Powrie 1 , Rupert Obholzer 3 & Paul V Carroll 1


1Department of Endocrinology, Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; 2Clinical Genetics, Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; 3ENT, Guys & St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.


Introduction: Mutations in the succinate dehydrogenase gene (SDH) predispose to the development of paraganglioma (PGL) which arise from parasympathetic and extra-adrenal sympathetic-associated chromaffin tissues. Identification of an index case results in family ‘cascade’ screening, often of asymptomatic individuals.

Aims: To identify prevalence of PGL tumours and elevated plasma metanephrines at first screening in patients newly identified as carrying a pathogenic SDH mutation.

Methods: Data collection from a database of patients with SDH mutations at Guy’s and St. Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust. Following confirmation of a pathogenic SDH mutation all patients had measurement of plasma metanephrines and whole-body (incl. head & neck) MRI.

Results: 35 adult patients (mean age 39 years; range 10–66) were included. All were asymptomatic and identified as carrying a mutation in SDH through family screening (3 with SDHA, 24 with SDHB, 3 with SDHC and 5 with SDHD). Using MDM records initial biochemical and cross-sectional screening results were obtained. 10 of 35 patients (29%, 5 with SDHB mutation and 5 with SDHD mutation) had a tumour at initial screening. Tumour locations were as follows; 4 head and neck (3×SDHD, 1×SDHB), 5 abdominal (2×SDHD, 3×SDHB) and 1 thoracic (SDHB). 4 patients had elevated metanephrines at initial screening (11%), one of whom had a malignant tumour detected 6 months from initial screen in the thorax (SDHB mutation).

Conclusion: The tumour burden is high (29%) in these adult patients with SDH mutations at initial screening. Tumours were located in the head & neck, abdomen and mediastinum. Not all abdominal tumours were associated with demonstrable catecholamine excess.

Volume 50

Society for Endocrinology BES 2017

Harrogate, UK
06 Nov 2017 - 08 Nov 2017

Society for Endocrinology 

Browse other volumes

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.