Endocrine Abstracts

Phaeochromocytoma/paragangliomas (PPGLs) are relatively rare tumours and the health burden of such tumours is not very well known.Aim: This population based study aims to characterise all the phaeochromocytomas, paragangliomas and adrenal medullary hyperplasia diagnosed between 2007 and 2016 in Malta; looking into presentation, hormonal analysis, imaging characteristics and histology findings.Results: 16 ...

Phaeochromocytoma/paragangliomas (PPGLs) are relatively rare tumours and the health burden of such tumours is not very well known.Aim: This population based study aims to characterise all the phaeochromocytomas, paragangliomas and adrenal medullary hyperplasia diagnosed between 2007 and 2016 in Malta; looking into presentation, hormonal analysis, imaging characteristics and histology findings.Results: 16 ...

A sixty-four-year old lady with a past medical history of total thyroidectomy for Graves’ disease and atrial fibrillation on amiodarone was referred to the endocrine out-patients in view of hypothyroidism. Since starting amiodarone, the TSH was noted to be elevated at 75 mU/l and the free T4 was 18 pmol/l. The patient complained of non-specific lethargy and was administered levothyroxine 50 mcg daily. Despite this her TSH remained elevated at 147 mU/l with a free T4 of 17...

Pituitary apoplexy arises when haemorrhage and/or infarction occurs within a pituitary tumour. In Malta, the estimated standardised incidence rate (SIR) of apoplexy is 0.15/100,000/yr. ACTH secreting pituitary adenomas have a SIR of 0.17/100,000/year.Case Report: A 46 year-old gentleman with a history of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus was referred following the diagnosis of a pituitary adenoma. He had presented with a 1.5 year history of left third ...

Introduction: Immunotherapy has advanced significantly over the past years. Immune-related adverse events (IRAEs) are various and include endocrinological complications such as Ipilimumab-induced hypophysitis (IIH). The incidence of this cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 antibody ranges from 0 to 17%. Patients usually present with symptoms secondary to hormonal insufficiencies.Case report: A 73 year-old lady, known case of metastatic melanoma on immunothe...

Background: The majority of adrenal incidentalomas are benign and patients can be reassured, but a personalized and multidisciplinary approach is required when dealing with these lesions, since they might be linked with various comorbidities. The aim of our study was to carry out an in-depth analysis of the biochemical workup of adrenal incidentalomas and comparing the results with controls. Methods: 252 patients with an incidentally discovered adrenal a...

Aim: Glucocorticoids play a significant role in inflammation and immune system disruption. Our study aimed to analyse different biochemical and blood count indices and serum inflammation-based scores in patients with all different causes of endogenous Cushing’s Syndrome (CS) in a well-defined population.Methods: Clinical records of 35 patients diagnosed with CS between 2008 and 2020 at the only central national health service hospital in Malta, were...

Introduction: Adrenal incidentalomas are masses discovered incidentally on imaging studies performed for possible pathologies other than suspected adrenal disease.Aim: To characterise a cohort of adrenal incidentalomas found on CT.Methods: This was a retrospective analysis, taking into account all the adrenal incidentalomas discovered on CT between July and December 2014 at the main hospital in Malta. The adrenal lesions were then ...