Endocrine Abstracts

Primary Thyroid Lymphoma is rare comprising less than 5% among all thyroid malignancies. It is historically associated with Hashimotos thyroiditis. It typically presents as a rapidly enlarging, painless goitre resulting in compression symptoms. Thyroid ultrasound and FNA cytology, using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, remain the primary modalities to confirm the presence of lymphoma. Treatment depends on the immunohistology. The prognosis is subtype depended and is ge...

Pheocromocytomas (PHEO) are catecholamine secreting tumours which can occur sporadically or as part of other hereditary/familial syndromes including Neurofibromotosis 1 (NF-1). Unlike the case with other genetic syndromes, the current neurofibromatosis guidelines do not recommend a routine hormonal screening strategy for PHEO in the absence of hypertension or other symptoms. In this paper we describe 2 asymptomatic and normotensive patients with NF-1 where secretory PHEO were ...

The standard management for Grave’s thyrotoxicosis includes the use anti-thyroid drugs, surgery and radioactive iodine treatment. In certain situations,alternative methods including bile acid sequestrants and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) have proven effective especially when other treatment modalities fail. We describe a case where conventional and alternative non-invasive measures failed to restore an euthyroid state and resorted to emergency thyroidectomy. A 49 yea...

Background: Graves’ disease (GD) is an auto-immune condition where the thyroid gland produces excess hormones due to stimulation of the TSH receptor. Treatments for GD have largely remained unchanged for over 60 years. The commonest treatment strategy is to use anti-thyroid drugs (ATD) which has limited efficacy and may have serious side-effects. Newer therapies are required that will supplement existing therapies and impact on the underlying immune mechanisms of GD. Vita...