Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Amiodarone is an iodine rich, potent antiarrhythmic drug that is highly lipid soluble and total body iodine stores remain increased for up to 9 months. Abnormal thyroid functions, either thyrotoxicosis or hypothyroidism occur in upto 14–18% of patients receiving long-term amiodarone therapy. Hence regular thyroid function tests are required in patients on long-term amiodarone treatment. The BNF clearly states that thyroid function tests should be done at a mini...

Background: Thorough history taking and clinical examination is vital in the assessment of all medical patients. However, diagnosis of endocrine disease also relies on appropriate biochemical tests. Previously in our unit, tests were only performed after new patients attended clinic. We proposed that diagnosis and management would be improved if this system was inverted.Method: In 2009 clinicians, nurses and chemical pathology representatives reviewed av...

A 26 year old lady presented with a 4/12 history of abdominal distension and lethargy. PMH included learning difficulties and congenital hypotonia and she was in long-term foster care.Diabetes had been diagnosed requiring insulin a few months previously. Examination revealed her to be extremely unwell, with proximal myopathy, purple striae, hirsutism and a firm nodular thyroid gland. She was hypokalaemic (2.8 mmol/l) and alkalotic. Cushing’s assessment(table) revealed ACT...

Introduction: Hyponatraemia is the commonest electrolyte disturbance occurring in 15–20% of inpatients (1), with significant clinical implications if mismanaged. We conducted a retrospective audit of our current management of hyponatraemia in our 1000 bedded trust.Method: Data of patients with severe hyponatraemia (Na<125 mmol/l) admitted to hospital over 4 weeks (Aug 2011) was collected. Twenty randomly selected cases were reviewed focusing on ...

Background: In primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA), CT is the sensitive imaging to visualise adrenal adenoma. However, because of the high incidence of adrenal incidentalomas, adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is frequently required to indentify unilateral (UD) or bilateral (BD) disease. AVS can be technically difficult and result can be operator dependant.Method: We retrospectively reviewed the last 14 cases of AVS performed in our hospital. The criterion of U...

Thyroid nodules are common, but the incidence of thyroid cancer occurring within them is very low. Nonetheless, patients presenting with thyroid lumps are frequently worried that they have cancer, and the wait for a diagnosis to be confirmed or refuted is highly stressful. This presents challenges to the clinician, in determining who requires extensive investigations, and how best to reassure patients in whom this is not indicated. However, satisfied patients are more likely t...