Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The accuracy of the radiological and laboratory findings used to investigate adrenal masses are not optimal and therefore additional investigation methods, such as fine needle aspiration (FNA) are sometimes needed. Different methods are used for obtaining FNA such as endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), transabdominal ultrasound and computerized tomography (CT)-guided biopsy.Methods: Using a search function incorporated in our institutional pathology...

Background: Pheochromocytomas (PHEO) and paragangliomas (PGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors that can lead to life-threatening conditions. The diagnosis of PHEO/PGL is established by measuring normetanephrine and metanephrine. Biochemical detection usually precedes clinical diagnosis of PHEO/PGL by several years. Co-occurrence of cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) and PHEO/PGL has been reported but potential association remains unclear. We aimed to compare plasma metanep...

Paragangliomas (PGL) and pheochromocytomas (PHEO) are rare neuroendocrine tumors with an estimated prevalence of 1:6500 and 1:2500, respectively. Although most PGL/PHEO are benign, approximately 10% of PHEOs and 15-35% of PGLs have metastatic disease, which it is main cause of death, with 6 years of median survival. Objective: To characterize the metastatic PHEOs and PGLs from a single center. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical records of patients with metastatic PHEO...

Introduction: Parathyroidectomy is the only curative treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) and has been traditionally performed through bilateral neck exploration (BNE). However, with the use of intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) assay along with preoperative localization exams, minimally invasive surgery can be performed with good surgical success rate.Aim: To evaluate the usefulness of IOPTH assay in guiding adequate parathyroidectom...

Introduction: Hypoparathyroidism (hypoPTH) is one of the most feared iatrogenic complications of the surgical treatment for thyroid cancer (TC). Despite supplementation with calcium salts and calcitriol, hypoPTH seems to be associated with a negative impact on quality of life (QoL), which has not been evaluated in the Portuguese patients.Objectives: To evaluate the impact of hypoPTH on the QoL of Portuguese patients with TC and its correlation with serum...

Introduction: PCSK-9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) inhibitors are monoclonal antibodies that affect metabolism of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by binding to the LDL receptor and promoting lysosomal degradation. There are two pcsk-9 inhibitors currently available: alirocumab (Praulent) and evolocumab (Repatha) which are administered subcutaneously every 14 days. Two large randomized studies (FOURIER, ODYSSEY) have shown that pcsk-9 inhibitors reduce LDL-chole...

Struma ovarii is a form of mature teratoma, a rare germ cell tumor, containing more than 50% thyroid tissue. Malignancy is uncommon. Non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) inside struma ovarii was never described. A 32 y.o. female with previous history of ovarian cysts was admitted in the emergency room with painfull acute abdominal distention. The MRI revealed a right adnexal mass, predominantly cystic with 82x66x80 mm and surrou...

Introduction: Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases (AITD) are one of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases in industrialized countries (5% of population). The two main phenotypes of AITD, Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) and Graves’ disease (GD), are both characterized by the presence of circulating thyroid antibodies and infiltration by autoreactive lymphocytes in the thyroid gland and sometimes the orbit. One of the most studied mechanisms underlying AITD is the imbalance between imm...

Introduction: Alemtuzumab is a humanized anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of relapsing−remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Through an immune reconstitution mechanism, it leads to thyroid autoimmunity in 35% of cases, with Graves’ disease (GD) being the most common presentation. Alemtuzumab-induced GD exhibits distinctive clinical and immunological features, with rarely reported cases of fluctuating thyroid status with documented both blockin...

Introduction: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor (1-2% of all thyroid carcinomas), which arises from calcitonin-producing C cells. Calcitonin (CT) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are used as tumor markers in the follow-up of patients with MTC. Non-secretory forms of MTC are very rare, accounting for less than 1% of the cases.Case Report: A 53-year-old man underwent left thyroid lobectomy for a 1.1 cm thyroid nodule subjec...