Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are very rare and often present a diagnostic challenge. They are often misdiagnosed due to non-specific symptoms. We report a rare case of NET presenting to a non endocrine unit.Case: A 72-year-old Caucasian female was referred for refractory diarrhoea with hypokalaemia. In addition, there was history of significant weight loss over few months.She had past medical history of diabetes, hyper...

A 28-year-man originally from Africa presented with short stature. His height at first clinic visit was 128 cm and there was no family history of short stature. He had pale complexion, lack of facial/body hair and under-developed secondary sexual characteristics consistent with morphology of hypopituitaric dwarfism. Insulin stress test with adequate hypoglycaemia<2.2 mmol/l confirmed flat growth hormone (GH) response (peak <0.5 mU/l) and inadequate cortisol response (p...

Background: Circulating levels of total oestradiol (E2) decrease with age in adult males; the effect of altered E2 circadian rhythm is uncertain. We hypothesised that age-related changes in the circadian rhythm contribute to decreased BMD in older males and investigated this.Methods: Nineteen subjects were studied: six young-healthy (YH) males (mean age (years) 27.3±4.6) with normal BMD, eight older-healthy (OH) males (mean age...

Introduction: The role of hormones and their underlying mechanisms in the development of osteoporosis are complex and not completely understood. Serum SHBG concentration is increased in older men and may be correlated with reduced bone mineral density and increased fracture risk. However, there is little data on exact relation of BMD with 24-h mean concentration and circadian rhythm of SHBG.Methods: We measured 24-h mean SHBG concentration in 3 groups of...

Introduction: Spontaneous hypoglycaemia is very rarely related to non-islet cell tumours. Most of them are due to mesenchymal tumours including haemangiopericytoma (HAP). It has been reported that, in patients with NICTH who have inoperable tumours, high doses of glucocorticoid or recombinant human growth hormone may be effective in treating hypoglycaemia. We present, with relevant imaging, a rare case of metastatic HAP causing an increased level of insulin like growth factor ...

Background: NF1 and MEN2 are rare conditions known to associate with bilateral phaeochromochtomas. We describe, with relevant associated radiology, a NF1 patient developing a series of neuroendocrine tumours including bilateral phaeochromocytomas.Clinical case: A 39-year-old lady presented with long standing episodic abdominal pain, diarrhoea, palpitation and sweating. Past history includes first arch syndrome and NF1 at teens and total thyroidectomy for...

Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is an uncommon disorder characterised by a deficiency of arginine vasopressin. There are many causes of CDI including traumatic, infiltrative, inflammatory and neoplastic disorders of the pituitary or hypothalamus. CDI may be associated with a pituitary stalk lesion or thickening. Such thickening is commonly related to lymphocytic infundibular hypophysitis (LIH) or other granulomatous infiltrative disorders.We present a s...

Background: Adult growth hormone deficient (AGHD) is associated with reduced bone turnover and reduced bone mineral density (BMD): factors improved by growth hormone replacement (GHR). Obesity is associated with reduced bone turnover but increased BMD. We investigated the impact of body mass index on parathyroid hormone (PTH), phospho-calcium metabolism and bone turnover in AGHD patients before and after GHR.Study design: Of 31 AGHD patients (15 obese pa...