Endocrine Abstracts

Context: Cyproterone acetate (CPA) is an androgen receptor blocker often used for testosterone suppression as a part of gender-affirming hormonal treatment (GAHT) in transgender women. In recent years, more concerns have been raised towards an increased risk of meningioma development, linked to CPA use in higher doses (25 mg or more per day).Objectives: To determine if lower doses of CPA are equally effective in maintain...

Background: Since pelvic gender-affirming surgery (GAS) is no longer required for legal gender change, we expect a growing number of transgender men and gender nonbinary people who refrain from pelvic surgery. Little is known about the effects of long-term testosterone use on the reproductive organs. Polycystic ovaries and endometrial changes have been described in previous histology-based studies. Furthermore, cervical cancer screening (CCS) is still recommen...

Background: Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a destructive thyroiditis which is presumably caused by a viral infections or post-viral inflammatory response. Thyroid dysfunction evolves through a set of stages (hyperthyroidism - hypothyroidism - euthyroidism) and is usually temporary, although some patients may develop permanent hypothyroidism. The risk factors for permanent hypothyroidism remain unclear.Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with SAT...

Background: Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is a rare thyroid tumor that accounts for only 5% of thyroid malignancies, but is associated with higher mortality than differentiated thyroid cancer. The major risk factor for thyroid lymphoma is the presence of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) with an estimated 60-fold increased risk. The lymphocytic infiltrate in HT appears to develop into lymphoma in a minority of patients. The differential diagnosis between Hashimoto’s thyr...

Publication: L. Veldeman et al. Calcif Tissue Int 2020 Epub 2020 Apr 19We describe the case of an adult female patient with symptomatic familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia requiring a step-wise therapeutic approach and the eventual need for a total parathyroidectomy and thyroidectomy to cure symptoms. Genetic analysis demonstrated a heterozygous R227L inactivating CASR gene variant, previously only described in neonatal severe hyperpar...

Objective: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) and primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) are two highly aggressive malignancies of the thyroid, both leading to a rapidly enlarging neck mass. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is generally performed as the primary examination for diagnosis in thyroid pathology but shows low sensitivity in diagnosing ATC or PTL. Non-diagnostic FNACs are usually followed by core-needle biopsy (CNB) or diagnostic surgery. As sensitivities of up to 100...

Background: Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a destructive thyroiditis of probable viral origin. Thyroid dysfunction evolves through a set of stages (hyperthyroidism - hypothyroidism - euthyroidism) and is usually temporary, although some patients develop permanent hypothyroidism. The risk factors for permanent hypothyroidism remain largely unclear.Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with SAT at the University Hospital of Brussels from 2001-2020 w...

Introduction: Immune checkpoint blockade in cancer treatment causes frequent adverse events of auto-immune etiology. Ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4 antibody) causes a hypophysitis in up to 10% of patients. In contrast, during treatment with nivolumab and pembrolizumab (both anti-PD-1 antibodies), hypophysitis is rare (<1%).Results: In the past year, we identified 4 cases of hypophysitis in patients treated with anti-PD-1 therapy (incidence 1% out of a total...

Objective: Treatment with ergot-derived dopamine agonists, pergolide and cabergoline, has been associated with an increased frequency of valvular heart disease in Parkinson’s disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of valvular heart disease in patients treated with dopamine agonists for prolactinomas.Design: Cross-sectional study.Patients: We performed conventional two-dimensional and Doppler echocar...

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of advanced malignancies. These monoclonal antibodies target cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or its ligand (PD-L1). Endocrine side effects are common, and while hypophysitis and thyroid disorders are predominant, checkpoint-blockade associated diabetes mellitus deserves further notice.Methods: We present the case of a 61-year old male wi...