Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature for studies that have investigated possible differences in prevalence of subclinical Cushing’s syndrome (SCS) and related clinical implications between patients with unilateral (UAI) and bilateral adrenal incidentalomas (BAI) and to meta-analyze the best evidence available.Methods: Electronic databases PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE were systematically searched. Main study o...

Introduction: Adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) are frequently detected due to the increasing use of abdominal imaging for diagnostic purposes. However, few prospective studies exist with respect to their natural history, regarding their size and clinical course. The aim of this study was to report the prevalence and natural history of AIs.Methods/design: Interim analysis of a prospective cohort study. The following tests were performed: serum cortisol noctur...

Introduction: Commonly used pre-operative methods (ultrasonography and sestamibi scan) to localize the culprit parathyroid gland(s) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), frequently yield false positive or false negative results. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) washout after fine-needle aspiration (FNA) may allow for a targeted surgical approach. The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic value of preoperative PTH washout after FNA in PHPT patients.<p class="...

Introduction: Functional parathyroid cysts represent an uncommon cause of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and an even rarer cause of a cervical mass.Case report: A 57-year-old woman was referred to our department following emergency treatment of hypercalcaemic crisis (serum calcium 16.4 mg/dl) with i.v. hydration and zoledronic acid. She was found to have multiple vertebral fractures by plain radiographs one month previously. Despite being diagnosed a...

Introduction: Although the association between thyroid autoimmunity and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is supported by clinical studies, evidence to their pathophysiologic link and causal relationship is lacking. Moreover, there is a paucity of data regarding the association of thyroid autoimmunity with the less common types of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The aim of the current paper was to investigate the association of autoimmunity and PTC vs follicular or medull...

Introduction: Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) is common in the course of Graves’ disease, but optic neuropathy is present in only ~5% of patients with GO. We present a case of recalcitrant Graves’ orbitopathy with late development of neuropathy, satisfactorily treated with rituximab.Case report: A 50-year-old female smoker was referred to our department for further management of Graves’ disease with associated GO. She complained of worsen...

Introduction: Despite the coexistence of secondary hyperparathyroidism with anaemia, hematological manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) are rare.Case report: A 67-year-old Caucasian female was admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine due to normocytic anemia and hypercalcemia, diagnosed on occasion of muscle weakness and fatigability for 3 months.Her medication included: alendronate 70 mg/week, alphacalcidol ...

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a rather frequent disorder characterized by high plasma PTH and calcium. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in all areas of the world. Vitamin D deficiency has been described in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. When present, vitamin D deficiency may be associated with large size parathyroid adenomas and musculoskeletal pain.The aim was to describe two cases of primary hyperparathyroidism and vitamin D deficiency.</...

Acromegaly is known to be associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Additionally, acromegaly is known to be associated with disordered carbohydrate metabolism. Lipid levels in acromegaly have not been extensively studied. The aim was to study lipid levels in acromegaly.Methods: In 32 patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly lipid levels were studied. In particular total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measu...

Background: With the increasing use of cancer immunotherapies in advanced solid organ and hematologic malignancies, endocrinologists are beckoned to manage endocrine complications with unique presentations and natural history in the already challenged oncology patient. We describe four patients illustrating the multifarious endocrine adversities of checkpoint inhibitors.Cases: Patient 1 is a 35-year old male with refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma, previ...