Endocrine Abstracts

Background & Aims: Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) are a heterogenous group of neoplasms that secrete peptides and neuroamines. For potentially malignant gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) NET, surgical resection represents the only curative option. Ten-year imaging surveillance programs using cross sectional imaging are recommended due to long time-to-recurrence following resection. We performed a retrospective chart review to evaluate radiation exposure associated with surveillan...

Background: Acquired male secondary hypogonadism is a relatively common cause of referral to the endocrine clinic. However, the extent to which further investigation is required, and the indications for a trial of testosterone therapy, remain unclear. Aim To review the clinical/biochemical/radiological findings in men presenting with this condition.Methods: We performed a retrospective case analysis of 41 consecutive patients referred to our clinic over ...

The results of recent studies indicate that traumatic brain injury (TBI) and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) must be considered as frequent causes of long-term disturbances of hypothalamo-pituitary function. Indeed, partial hypopituitarism has been established with a pooled frequency of 33% in TBI and of 48% in SAH survivors. Nevertheless, still little is known about risk factors and clinical characteristics of pituitary impairment after these two types of brain damag...

Aim: To assess the outcome of thyroid surgery in a District General Hospital.Methods: Retrospective study of thyroid surgery done over a 3-year period(1999-2002). Indications for surgery, pre and postoperative thyroid status, extent of surgery, post operative complications and post operative histology were evaluated.Results: 124 patients underwent surgery for thyroid disease. 90 % were female and 10 % male, median age of 52 years (...

Primary adrenal insufficiency in children can be due to mutations in >20 genes, most commonly CYP21A2, giving rise to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Phenotypically these disorders overlap and present with conditions ranging from isolated (or familial) glucocorticoid deficiency (FGD) to syndromic disorders involving multiple tissues. Distinguishing between them can be problematic, especially where biochemical testing is not possible or not undertaken. Over the last 30 ...

Background: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are in increased risk of hypothalamic−pituitary−gonadal axis disruption. We aimed to explore changes in androgen hormones during first impatient rehabilitation and identify factors associated with their levels among participants from the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort (SwiSCI) cohort.Methods: We measured sex hormones using Enyzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay in persons with a newly aquired...

Background: Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) can be associated with significant morbidity in children of all ages, the most common cause being Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). Several other rare inherited causes of PAI have been identified over the years which lack diagnostic phenotypic or biochemical signs, leaving genetic testing as the only approach to make a definitive diagnosis. Our cohort involves >440 patients who presented with features of PAI – hypogl...

Background: Appendiceal GCA is a tumor which has been misunderstood for decades. GCAs are comprised of goblet-like mucinous cells, with variable numbers of neuroendocrine and Paneth-like cells and lie on the spectrum between appendiceal adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumors. Prognosis depends on the stage and tumor grade; 30% of patients with low-grade and 50-70% of high grade GCAs present with metastatic disease. Currently, there are limited systemic therapy options and de...

Background: Advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC), extra-pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (EP-NEC) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDA) are rapidly progressive cancers characterized by unbridled replication stress. Patients with these malignancies possess dismal prognoses with limited options after initial first-line chemotherapy. These tumors rely on the integrity of DNA damage repair pathways to ensure genomic stability. The ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) pro...

Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) in children is usually congenital with more than 25 causal genes leading to overlapping phenotypes. A genetic diagnosis is helpful to guide management and genetic counselling but can be challenging in resource limited settings where facilities for antibodies and genetic testing may be unavailable. Studies from Africa are rare but, in Sudan, the most common genetic aetiologies for PAI are congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH; mostly CYP21A...