Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The role of post-operative radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFA) remains controversial. We compared the difference in outcome between patients receiving transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) alone and TSS plus RT in 93 patients treated for NFA between 1986 and 2005. 64 (69%) had TSS alone whilst 29 (31%) received TSS plus RT (45GY, 25Fr, 3 field). All patients were followed up by CT and then MRI scans repeated at increasing interval...

Hyperprolactinaemia in the presence of pituitary tumour can occur from tumour secretion or from stalk compression causing loss of dopaminergic inhibition. It is generally accepted that, in the presence of a large pituitary mass, a serum prolactin level up to 3000mU/l indicates stalk compression rather than a prolactinoma; the clinical diagnosis of prolactinoma depends on the degree of hyperprolactinaemia in the context of pituitary tumour size. Our aim was to examine more form...

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare condition caused by haemorrhage or infarction into a pituitary tumour. The majority of patients do not have any identifiable triggering event, although situations altering the blood flow to the pituitary gland and pre-existing systemic hypertension have been identified as potential causal factors.We retrospectively reviewed the presentation and outcome of 15 patients with pituitary apoplexy (8 men, 7 women; age 16-87, mean 5...

Klinefelter syndrome is an abnormality of sexual development which is usually characterised by the chromosome complement of 47,XXY, although occasionally patients may have multiple X or Y chromosomes, may be mosaic with 46, XY, 47,XXY or have an X-autosome translocation. We present the case of a 43 year old male patient with the phenotypic appearance of Klinefelter syndrome and primary infertility, who was found on karyotype analysis to have an hitherto undescribed inversion o...

Background: Long term remission in paediatric onset hyperthyroidism (HT) is low at 20–30% compared to 40–50% in adult onset HT. There are very few studies which report long-term follow-up of paediatric onset HT especially into adulthood and factors which can predict a need for definitive treatment in the long-term.Objectives: To evaluate the long-term outcome of paediatric onset HT with follow-up into adulthood and identify any early predictors...

Introduction: Our knowledge of the genomic background of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) is rapidly expanding with more widespread use of sequencing technologies. Although known to be mutationally quiet compared to some other malignancies, many NENs harbour somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs), however the significance of these are unclear.Aims: We sought to identify SCNAs in a cohort of patients with NENs.Methods: Whole exome s...

BackgroundThe term adrenal incidentaloma (AI) refers to the existence of an asymptomatic adrenal mass that was detected at random in an imaging test performed not in order to evaluate the adrenal glands. In recent years, the use of imaging tests has increased, and the resolution of the imaging studies has been improved. This trend may affect the characteristics of AIs at the time of diagnosis.ObjectiveInvesti...

Introduction: Adrenal schwannomas are rare but important causes of adrenal tumours which can often only be diagnosed histologically. We present an interesting case of an incidentally detected adrenal schwannoma.Case: A 67-year-old gentleman had an ultrasound imaging of the abdomen that incidentally revealed a large right adrenal mass prompting referral to the endocrinology service. His past medical history included myoca...

Introduction: Genomic testing is expected to become a part of mainstream testing in the not-too-distant future, with clinicians ordering genetics tests in the same way routine endocrine tests are requested today. Knowledge on how and what test to request needs to be gathered by a wide range of physicians. To support this, the Genomics Education Programme of NHS England is developing a resource for all endocrinologists to use in clinic as part it’s Genomic...

Case: This 23-year-old lady initially presented in 2013 with headaches, galactorrhoea and secondary amenorrhoea. Visual fields were normal to confrontation. Prolactin levels were elevated at 3028miu/l. MRI pituitary revealed a 14x13x15mm adenoma pushing the pituitary stalk posteriorly, and compressing the left side of the optic chiasm.Initial Management: Cabergoline was commenced (250mg twice weekly), with good clinical ...