Endocrine Abstracts

Pseudohypercalcaemia is defined as an elevated total calcium level coincidental with a normal ionised calcium level. This rare phenomenon occurs in monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS). We report two cases of MGUS and a case of atopy with grossly elevated IgE levels exhibiting the phenomenon.Case 1: 31 year old female with MGUS, hypercalcaemia and normal parathyroid (PTH) levels. Parathyroid imaging normal. Consensus diagnosis of primary ...

Primary adrenal failure is a rare disorder with a prevalence in developed countries of 93–140 per million and an incidence of 4.7–6.2 per million. Autoimmune adrenalitis is the main cause (80%) followed by tuberculosis (15%). The remaining 5% of cases represent rare disorders with bilateral adrenal haemorrhagic infarction secondary to primary antiphopholipid syndrome being very rare (0.5%).A 57-year-old female presented with a 3-week history of...

Gynaecomastia is common, occurring in 30–50% of healthy men, and its aetiology is usually benign. Clinical features inclusive of recent onset, rapid progression, and loss of libido and muscle strength, indicate the need to exclude a malignant aetiology.A 48-year-old man presented with an 18-month history of such clinical features. Investigations revealed cortisol 1136 nmol/l, 17-hydroxyprogesterone 6.6 nmol/l, androstenedione 13.3 nmol/l, DHEAS 21.8...

Cushing’s syndrome is a rare disease with an incidence of 0.72–2.4/million per year. Approximately 14% of patients are over 60 years of age but <1% are over 80 years of age. In a 2-month period, we diagnosed three females over 80 years of age as having Cushing’s syndrome. None of them had a typical cushingoid appearance.Patient 1, 80 years of age. Presentation: coincidental finding of bilateral adrenal hypertrophy on CT scanning as par...