Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Parathyroid cyst is a very rare abnormality, representing 0.6% of all thyroid and parathyroid lesions. The diagnosis can be made on the basis of sonography and analysis of aspirated cystic fluid for parathyroid hormone. Parathyroid cysts are divided in two groups: functional (associated with clinical hyperparathyroidism) and non-functional. In the case of non-functional parathyroid cysts, fine needle aspiration is the elective treatment, but for functional parath...

Background: Radioiodine (RI) treatment of benign thyroid disease in young people has received a lot of attention recently with authorities in the US highlighting an encouraging short and medium term safety record. In this audit we surveyed treatment centres in the UK to assess the trend in RI administration in patients aged 21 years and under.Methods: Over sixty Medical Physics Departments, dispersed to represent a suitable geographical coverage pattern ...

Low glycaemic index (GI) diet and gut hormones such as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY) have been shown independently to reduce appetite. However, the direct relationship between a single meal of low or high GI and the levels of these hormones has not been studied. In this study we looked at the short term effects of a single low or high GI meal on plasma levels of GLP-1, PYY and insulin.King’s College London’s research ethi...

A 55-year-old gentleman was referred to surgeons for screening colonoscopy in view of family history of bowel cancer. His mother, maternal aunt and two cousins had history of bowel cancer. When seen by the surgeons, he gave 4-month history of intermittent abdominal bloating and rectal bleeding. His past medical history included a recent diagnosis of hypertension, a chronic history of facial neuralgia and history of excision of numerous facial skin tags. He was on amlodipine 5 ...

A 45-year-old male to female transsexual presented with poor female fat distribution. She had been treated with oestrogen for 13 years, initially as ethinyl oestradiol to a maximum dose of 150 ug/day, presently taking 100 mcg with GNRH analogue. On this regimen she had B cup breast development but underwent breast augmentation surgery and still suffered from low self-esteem. She was dissatisfied with her body image because she perceived a male body fat distribution. Her initia...

GATA3 mutations cause the congenital autosomal dominant hypoparathyroidism, deafness and renal dysplasia (HDR) syndrome. GATA3 belongs to a family of dual zinc-finger nuclear transcription factors that recognise the consensus (A/T)GATA(A/G) motif and are involved in vertebrate embryonic development. To date, the mechanisms by which GATA3 mutations lead to haploinsufficiency of the GATA3 protein, which comprises 444 amino acids, have been shown to include loss of ...

Introduction: It is known that certain endocrine disorders are related to each other and occur together due to their autoimmune aetiology. Patients with an autoimmune disease must be considered at risk for other autoimmune disease. Addison’s disease usually presents with recurrent hypoglycaemia in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus.We present a case Addison’s disease in type 1 diabetes presenting with severe hyperglycaemia.<p class="abs...

Introduction: Cushing’s syndrome is characterised by glucocorticoid excess. This is more commonly caused by excess adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) produced either by a pituitary tumour (Cushing’s disease) or ectopic secretion. An example of the latter is the production of ACTH by a lung carcinoma (typically small cell)1. Other causes of Cushing’s syndrome include long term steroids or adrenal carcinoma.Case history: A 62-year...

Silent and post-partum thyroiditis are autoimmune conditions, which result in a triphasic thyroid hormone disturbance. They are distinguished by the later condition’s relation to pregnancy. Their association in the same patient resulting in recurrent episodes of silent thyroiditis suggests a common aetiology.We report a 32-year-old female with post-partum and recurrent silent thyroiditis continuing over a decade. She presented post-partum with thyro...

We present the case of 88 year old lady who presented with long standing history of diarrhoea (18 months). She had been previously investigated under the gastroenterologists with various tests including upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy. In view of deterioration of symptoms she was admitted under the geriatric team as she could no longer cope with the diarrhoea. On examination she looked well and had fullness in the right hypochondrial region. Blood tests showed abnormal live...