Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Phaeochromocytomas (PHAEO) and paragangliomas (PGGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumours. The traditional ‘10%’ teaching mnemonic has recently been challenged.Methods: Clinical and biochemical/pathological data were collected prospectively. A 24-h urine sample for metanephrine assay was used for postoperative biochemical follow-up.Results: Between ‘Jan 89 and June 10’ 110 patients were operated for PHAEO...

Background: Primary hyperaldosteronism is allegedly present in 10% of hypertensive patients. Conn’s syndrome is present in a third of such patients and adrenalectomy has the potential to cure/improve the control of hypertension. This study assesses the benefits/costs of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) in a cohort of consecutive patients with Conn’s syndrome operated in a tertiary referral centre.Methods: Clinical, radiological, operative and pa...

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is commonly diagnosed after the fifth decade of life. Current guidelines suggest that young patients with apparently sporadic PHPT should be screened as potential index cases for the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) syndrome.Aim: To determine the prevalence of mutations in the MEN1 gene in young patients presenting with apparently sporadic PHPT before the age of 40 years.Met...

A 48-year-old woman presented to her GP with polyuria and proximal muscle weakness. She was found to have newly developed hypertension at 180/96 and her serum potassium was 2.7 mmol/l. Lisinopril 40 mg od and Slow-K 1 tablet bd were started and she was referred for further investigation.On clinic review blood pressure was 188/110 supine and 190/110 standing. Serum sodium was 147 mmol/l, potassium 3.7 mmol/l and total bicarbonate 29 mmol/l. Her Lisinopril...

Background: Arguably patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancers (PTC) are more likely to have negative radioactive iodine uptake and low/undetectable thyroglobulin levels if the central compartment lymph node dissection (CCLND) is performed routinely irrespective of the macroscopic appearance of the LN. The aim of this study was to determine whether routine CCLND leads to more favourable outcome in the first year after treatment for well-differentiat...

Background: Concordant parathyroid localization studies using sestamibi and ultrasound scans allow minimally invasive parathyroidectomy to be the procedure of choice for patients with non-familial primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). This study investigates the financial implications of scan-directed parathyroid surgery.Methods: Analysis of hospital records for a cohort of consecutive unselected patients treated in a tertiary referral centre over a 5-year...

Introduction: Chronic hepatitis C has a high incidence in our country being a major public health issue.Aims and methods: To establish prognostic factors for developing thyroid dysfunction in patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy. A prospective study of patients with chronic hepatitis C on antiviral therapy was undertaken. 68 patients started on antiviral therapy in the period 1st January 2003 – 1st J...

Introduction: Chronic Hepatitis C is highly prevalent in our country.Management involves combination treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Thyroid disease in affected patients can be caused by the hepatitis C virus or by the interferon therapy.Aims and method: The study aims to investigate thyroid dysfunction and optimal management strategies for patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon and r...

Introduction: Echocardiographic studies in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) suggest that up to half of patients have left ventricular dysfunction and an increased risk of congestive heart failure that improve after parathyroidectomy. The cardiac hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is an independent risk marker for heart failure.Methods: Prospective cohort study of consecutive unselected patients with biochemical diagnosis of PHPT. Pl...

Background: Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) is the cornerstone of assessment of thyroid nodules. Cytological criteria for benign (THY2) and malignant (THY5) nodules are well-established and reliable. In a minority of patients cytology raises the possibility of a neoplasm (THY3) and only formal histological assesment can differentiate between benign and malignant lesions.Method: Retrospective review of histological and clinical data in a cohort of pat...