Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors that are derived from the embryonic neural crest cells. Because the paraganglia are widespread through the body, paragangliomas can be found in unusual anatomic locations and the diagnosis can be hard to establish. Case presentationWe present the case of an 72 year-old, hypertensive woman who arrived at the hospital for pain in the right hypochondrium. General examination revealed an abdomen without signs of peritoneal irr...

Background: Hypokalemia can be caused by decreased intake of potassium or by excessive loss of potassium in the urine or through the gastrointestinal tract. Severe and life-threatening hypokalemia is defined by levels below 2.5 mEq/l and can be associated with muscle weakness, cramping, headaches, palpitations, polydipsia and polyuria. Periodic paralysis is a very rare presentation in Caucasians.Case presentation: A 50-year-old Caucasian man, without pre...

Introduction: Primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PBMAH) is an uncommon cause (<1%) of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome (CS). Recently, due to increased number of incidental imaging findings of PBMAH, the clinical expression of the disease has changed in favor of oligosymptomatic or subclinical cases, compared to those with clinically manifest CS, or rarely with secretion of mineralocorticoids, or sex steroids.Case report: A 51-yea...

Introduction: The coexistence of thyroid nodules and autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) has been widely reported. The aim of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the incidence of thyroid nodules associated with autoimmune thyroiditis. Sibiu county is a well known mild iodine deficiency area from Romania.Material and methods: We retrospectively analysed data from 600 patients (25–79 years) with autoimmune thyroiditis in University County Hospital ...

Background: Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors characterized by a high degree of variability and unpredictability. Coexistence of PPGLs and adrenocortical adenomas is an uncommon occurrence that can further complicate the clinical course. Objective: We describe the diagnostic and management challenges of a patient with a history of surgically removed pheochromocytoma, presenting with symptoms of catecholamine exce...

Introduction: Myxedema coma is the end stage of untreated or inadequately treated hypothyroidism. It has an estimated incidence of 0.22 per million per year. The clinical picture is often that of an elderly obese female, presenting in midwinter with increased lethargy, somnolence and confusion. The presentation is one of severe hypothyroidism, with or without coma.Such cases are predominantly based on a primary thyroid disorder such as Hashimoto′s ...

With congenital hypopituitarism, the clinical manifestations of pituitary hormone deficiencies usually appear during infancy or early childhood. Typically, one or more anterior pituitary hormones are deficient, and the most severe manifestations include neonatal hypoglycemia, electrolyte imbalances and failure to thrive. We present the case of a 43 year old male, with cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities (arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus), with no prior ho...

Pineal germinomas account for the majority of intracranial germ cell tumors. Surgery and radiation are usual management options, and secondary hypopituitarism can ensue after both. Diabetes insipidus is particularly common after surgical removal of pineal tumors, but improvement in polyuria and polydipsia years after surgery is exceedingly rare. Here, we present the case of a 49-year-old male, who was diagnosed with a pineal germinoma at the age of 20, which was surgically rem...

Background: A large body of evidences have demonstrated that metabolic surgery is associated with significant and durable weight loss as well as a significant improvement of obesity-related comorbidities. The aim of our study was to evaluate the long term impact of gastric sleeve on metabolic parameters in morbidly obese patients.Materials and methods: We evaluated 95 (67 women) severely obese patients (mean age 43.4±10.69 years) before and approxim...

Introduction: Vitamin D is a hormone essential for calcium absorption and bone mineralization, which is positively associated with bone mineral density. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between 25-OH vitamin D values and parameters of bone mineralization (bone mineral density - BMD) and bone quality (trabecular bone score - TBS) in patients from day to day clinical practice.Materials and methods: We evaluated 433 postmenopausal women...