Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Discordant thyroid function tests are frequently identified in clinical practice and should raise suspicions about laboratory analytical interference.Case report: A 59 year old male was referred to Endocrine services for abnormal thyroid function tests following his recent Emergency department presentation with palpitations. His TFT (Roche) showed FT4 level was raised at 27.1 pmol/l (6.5 - 17.0), and his TSH normal at 2.57 uIU/ml (0.34 - 5....

A 20-year-old lady presented to her GP with menstrual irregularity and worsening right-sided headaches with associated vomiting. Blood tests showed a mildly raised testosterone level and a markedly raised prolactin level, approximately 80% of which was macroprolactin (normal monomeric prolactin level). She was subsequently referred by her GP for an MRI Pituitary, which was reported as showing a 6-mm hypoenhancing lesion. Medical history includes migraines and hayfever; she was...

Background: Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy is well-established in the management of benign thyroid disorders associated with thyrotoxicosis, but the optimal dose remains controversial. Guidelines recommend 500–800 MBq, though it is thought that Graves’ thyrotoxicosis may respond more readily to lower doses (400–600 MBq).Methods: We studied all local cases receiving RAI over four calendar years (2010–2013; n=447). Demographi...

Background: Endocrinology is well-established as an outpatient specialty. However, virtually no data exist on the volume, nature, management and disposal of inpatient referrals to inform the design and delivery of a quality-assured service.Methods: We undertook an audit of all activity of the Inpatient Endocrine Service at University Hospitals Birmingham NHSFT (IES@UHB) between January 2010 and December 2015. Referrals received electronically via the Pat...

Background: The published data on the natural history of (presumed) non-functioning pituitary microadenomas (micro-NFAs) is possibly compromised by small sample sizes, short follow-up and inclusion of cases with other pathologies in the analyses.Objective: To clarify the long-term outcomes of micro-NFAs in a large cohort of patients.Methods: We conducted a multi-centre, retrospective, cohort study involving 22 UK endocrine departme...

Background: Large series of patients elucidating the natural history of conservatively managed non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas (macroNFPAs) and relevant prognostic factors are not available.Objectives: Clarify long-term outcomes of macroNFPAs in large cohort of patients.Methods: Multi-centre [21 UK endocrine departments-UK NFPA consortium], retrospective, cohort study of ca...