Endocrine Abstracts

Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) is normally produced by syncytiotrophoblasts of the placenta and may also be secreted by germ cell neoplasms. An increase of serum hCG concentration in a male patient often suggests malignant neoplasms with a trophoblastic element. Common examples include classic seminoma with syncytiotrophoblast-like giant cells, combined germ cell tumour, and choriocarcinoma. Non-gestational choriocarcinomas typically arise from gonadal...

The VHL gene is a tumor suppressor gene located on chromosome 3p25.3. Mutations in this gene prevent production of the VHL protein and as a result, cells grow and divide uncontrollably to form the tumors and cysts. Germline VHL gene mutations predispose to a variety of tumors, most commonly retinal and cerebellar haemangioblastomas, renal cell carcinoma and phaeochromocytoma. Papillary cystadenomas of the epidididymis are seen in 10–26% of men are rarely...

A 60 year old Caucasian woman presented with a three month history of rapidly enlarging neck swelling and hoarseness of voice. Her past medical history included Hypothyroidism. Her neck ultrasound scans showed 3.5 cm left thyroid nodule with bilateral lymphadenopathy (U5). The Fine needle aspiration (FNA) revealed densely grouped variable sized irregular epithelial cells with nuclear atypia and spindle shaped fragments with focal areas of lymphocytic thyroiditis. The different...

Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is the gold standard for detecting aldosterone production in bilateral adrenal hyperplasia and for distinguishing the lateralization of aldosterone secretion. Successful AVS is determined by calculating the selectivity index (SI). The cut off value for the SI is ≥2.0 under un-stimulated conditions. The aldosterone level (AL) is corrected for cortisol level (CL) and adjusted values are then compared to determine the lateralizing index (LI). Mos...