Endocrine Abstracts

The existing follow-up studies on patients with incidentally discovered adrenal adenoma (AA) focused almost exclusively on repeat imaging and endocrine work-up on a short period.Of consecutive 152 patients with AA referred to our center from 1989 to 2003, we have assessed the risk of developing metabolic disorders and vascular complications in the 74 patients who did not underwent surgery (51 women and 23 men, median age 57, range 25–74 years) durin...

Recent guidelines recommend to use the 1-mg DST to screen for subclinical hypercortisolism assuming that a post-DST cortisol >5.0 μg/dl define this condition. However, several experts suggest a more sensitive cut-off at 1.8 μg/dl while others consider mandatory to confirm unsuppressibility with a 8-mg DST. A consecutive series of 64 patients (22 men, 42 women, aged 28–81 years) with clinically inapparent adrenal adenoma were studied between 2005 and 2007. Th...

Objective: Seventeen patients (9 women, 8 men aged 36 years, 22–58) radically resected for ACC were treated with adjuvant mitotane and prospectically followed from 2000 to 2006.Methods: Stage of ACC: was: 1 stage I,; 12 stage II, 4 stage III; Weiss score 6, 3–9; Ki67% 20, 4–67. Eleven patients had functional tumors. Median duration of treatment was 15 months (range:4–84) and 14 patients are currently on mitotane, 2 died, 1 discontinue...

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by aspecific symptoms (e.g., fever, cough) and can be complicated by viral pneumonia and many other manifestations can occur. Endocrinological complications have also been described. Pheochromocytomas are rare tumors located in the adrenal medulla, causing symptoms due to catecholamines overproduction and abrupt release. Catecholamines release can be continuous or intermittent and there can be several triggers including stress,...

Background: Hypoparathyroidism is an endocrine disorder characterized by hypocalcemia due to low levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Activated vitamin D (calcitriol) and calcium supplementation may be difficult in patients with malabsorption, as calcium requires an acid environment to dissolve. In this setting, subcutaneous administration of PTH analogues may be effective in reducing the dosage of oral calcium and vitamin D supplementation.Case report: ...

IntroductionAdrenal insufficiency is a clinical condition that leads to depletion of glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and androgens. While in men adrenal androgen deficiency is not clinically significant for testicular testosterone synthesis, in women so far androgen treatment is suggested for the reduction of libido and depression. However, no data is currently available on female sexual function.Primary endpoints<p class="...

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). It can involve extranodal sites in about 30%, but the involvement of endocrine organs is rare (adrenal involvement is estimated<0.2%) and correlates with poor prognosis. In contrast to pituitary metastases from solid tumors, NHL involvement of the anterior lobe of the pituitary is more frequently seen.Case presentation: A 84-year-old woman presented to the...

Background: Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is rare, usually presenting with hyperparathyroidism and severe hypercalcemia. A standardized diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic approach has not been provided yet and TNM staging algorithm is not universally accepted. Surgery is the first-choice treatment and is the only effective therapy to control hypercalcaemia. Chemo- or radio-therapy, local treatments or novel drugs should be reserved to selected cases.Cas...

Background: Hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT) is characterized by low calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH), often secondary to thyroid surgery. Treatment consists in activated vitamin D and calcium supplementation. Such treatment may be difficult in patients with malabsorption as calcium usually requires an acid environmental to dissolve, while calcitriol needs an intact intestine for a full absorption.Case report: A 36-year old woman had a history of sleeve ...

Mitotane, used in the treatment of adrenocortical cancer (ACC), is able to inhibit multiple enzymatic steps of adrenocortical steroid biosynthesis, potentially causing adrenal insufficiency (AI). Recent studies in vitro have also documented a direct inhibitory effect of mitotane at the pituitary level.The aim of the study was to assess the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis in patients receiving mitotane as adjuvant treatment after radica...