Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The prevalence of palpable nodules varies between 3–7% and nodules diagnosed by ultrasonography between 20–76%. According to the American Thyroid Association’s guidelines it isn’t recommended to perform routine thyroid ultrasound for thyroid nodules diagnosis, unless they are palpable or there are any risk factors.Objective: Evaluation of sonographic and cytological differences between palpable and non-palpable thyroid n...

Introduction: On average, 40 to 50% of the patients with autoimmune adrenocortical insufficiency will eventually develop an autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS). Our aim was to characterize a population with primary adrenocortical insufficiency (AI) and determine the prevalence of other autoimmune disorders that might establish the diagnosis of APS.Materials and methods: We included patients with primary AI under surveillance at our Department. Those ...

Introduction: Thyroglobulin (TG) measurement in fine needle aspirates cytology (FNAC) needle washout has become an important method for diagnostic of cervical lymph nodes, particularly in patients with differentiated thyroid cancers, but also in some patients before the diagnostic. We report some clinical cases to confirm its importance in these situations.Patients and methods: In our department we use this method since 2007. We report seven patients wit...

Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is the most common cause of hypercalcaemia in the outpatient setting. Surgical remove of an adenoma or hyperplastic glands results in cure, but an accurate localization, preoperative whenever possible, is essential for success. Taking into consideration that parathyroid carcinoma is a rare event, FNA of parathyroid glands, complemented by PTH measurement in washouts (FNA/PTH), may be a useful tool in the diagnostic workout.<...

Objective: The pathogenesis of pituitary tumours is still incompletely understood. Somatotropinomas occur both sporadically and in the context of familial syndromes, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), Carney complex (CNC) and isolated familial somatotropinoma (IFS). Recently, germline mutations were reported in AIP (aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein) gene in Finish and Italian families and in Finish patients with apparently sporadic pituitar...

Introduction: Differentiated thyroid carcinoma is usually associated with a good prognosis. However, some of these tumors (5%) are radioiodine refractory and have different progression, associated with poor prognosis. In these situations, some tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) can be used. We present a clinical case showing the difficulties in the follow-up and treatment of these patients.Clinical case: A 60 years old woman, with a “multicentric papi...

Introduction: Our aim was to determine the comparable value of thyroglobulin in the washout of lymph node fine-needle aspirate (FNATg) and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB).Materials and methods: We included 29 patients (37 FNAB) with history of differentiated thyroid cancer who underwent total thyroidectomy and were found to have suspicious cervical lymph nodes during follow-up. The referred population was evaluated on what concerns to gender, age, s...

Background: Pituitary apoplexy occurs when a tumor undergoes acute hemorrhage, infarct, or both. This often leads to acute severe symptoms (clinical) but can also occur without them and diagnosed on CT/MRI, surgery, pathology (subclinical). To investigate clinical and subclinical apoplexy in nonfunctioning tumors (n=221) from our database.Design: Retrospective review of clinical presentation, tumor characteristics and outcome of 24 patients, 11 fe...

Introduction: The association of autoimmune diseases in the same individual is common. It is well documented that Graves’ disease (GD) is associated to various autoimmune diseases, including: pernicious anemia, vitiligo, type 1 diabetes, Addison’s disease, systemic sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) may be associated with rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogr...

Introduction: Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHLD) is a rare autosomal-dominant syndrome, characterized by the development of multiple cysts and tumours, namely retinal and central nervous system hemangioblastomas, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), phaeochromocytoma, pancreatic endocrine tumours (PET) and endolymphatic sac tumours.Most germinal mutations are missense, related to a high risk for presenting phaechromocytoma (specially if Arg167Trp mutation im...