Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Disruption of the hypothalamic dopaminergic inhibitory control of prolactin (PRL) secretion results in hyperprolactinaemia. We have previously shown in a large series of patients with non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas that serum PRL virtually never exceeds 2000 mU/l in the absence of PRL elevating medications. Current data on the effect of other sellar/parasellar masses are limited.Objective: To investigate the range of PRL values at ...

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a cause of hypopituitarism. Previous reports suggest complete or partial pituitary dysfunction in up to 40% of subjects.Aim: To investigate the presence of anterior pituitary hormone deficits in TBI patients tested at least 3 months after the injury.Patients and methods: The patients were recruited from those who have been assessed by the local Rehabilitation Centre over the last 5 years....

BACKGROUND: Dopamine agonists are the treatment of choice in macroprolactinomas. A number of these tumours do not respond to the commonly used doses. In such cases the outcome after alternative approaches has not been clarified.AIM: To assess the response of macroprolactinomas to bromocriptine (BRC) or cabergoline (CAB) and the result of further interventions in resistant cases.PATIENTS AND METHODS: All records of the patients pres...

Background: Rathke cleft cysts (RCC) are benign, epithelial-lined cystic lesions arising from remnants of Rathke's pouch. Although reported in 13-22% of normal autopsies, they are rarely symptomatic. Their outcome after surgery remains unclear.Aim: To analyse the clinical/laboratory features and treatment outcome of patients who presented to the Departments of Endocrinology and Neurosurgery with symptomatic RCC (histologically confirmed) between 1977-200...

BACKGROUND: Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LHy) is an uncommon inflammatory disorder of the pituitary with features mimicking those of sellar tumours, thereby often being misdiagnosed. However, no long-term follow-up studies have been published.OBJECT: To evaluate the clinical/radiological characteristics and the prognosis of patients with LHy.PATIENTS-METHODS: The records of the patients who presented to the Department of Endocrinology...

Background: Pituitary stalk compression by sellar/parasellar tumours [commonly non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFA) or craniopharyngiomas (CR)] is one of the causes of hyperprolactinaemia. However, in such cases the upper limits of serum prolactin (PRL) are not clearly defined ('grey zone': 3000-6000 mU/L) causing confusion in the differential diagnosis between disconnection hyperprolactinaemia and prolactin-secreting adenomas.Objective: To investiga...

Background: In clinical practice there is considerable confusion as to whether pituitary imaging is indicated in patients presenting with a marginally elevated serum prolactin level (<1000 milliunits per litre) and no other discernible cause of hyperprolactinaemia.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of radiological abnormalities of the pituitary in patients presenting with marginal hyperprolactinaemia (<1000 milliunits...

Background: Long-acting depot somatostatin analogues injections are useful drugs in the medical treatment of acromegaly. No previous study has assessed the value of acute octreotide suppression test in predicting responses to depot injections.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the value of the acute octreotide suppression test (100 micrograms subcutaneously, GH measurements hourly for 8 hours) in predicting the long-term response to long...

Craniopharyngiomas are tumours of the squamous epithelium, which arise in the sellar and/or suprasellar regions from embryonic squamous cell rests of the involuted hypophyseal-pharyngeal duct. They account for approximately 3% of intracranial neoplasms, present with symptoms relating to pressure effects on adjacent organs and often have an unpredictable behaviour. Corticotroph adenomas, usually measuring a few millimeters in diameter, are found in 10-12% of surgically removed ...

Background: It is well established that patients with acromegaly have compromised quality of life both during active disease, as well as whilst on remission. (1). In the recent years, there has been increasing emphasis on the importance of considering health-related quality of life (QoL) outcomes in the care of patients with acromegaly. The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust introduced and implemented the use of a holistic needs assessment (HNA) tool in the P...