Endocrine Abstracts

The Endocrine Society recommends urinary or plasma metanephrines as first choice screening tests for phaeochromocytoma due to their high sensitivity. Test specificity is limited by the influence of many commonly prescribed medications resulting in false positive results and additional investigations. The aims of this retrospective study were to (1) Determine the diagnostic accuracy of urinary metanephrines using current cut-off values and (2) Evaluat...

We present the case and management of a 76 year old man who developed medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) as a result of 12 years of bisphosphonate and denosumab treatment for hypercalcaemia in the setting of metastatic parathyroid carcinoma.Within two years of his original parathyroidectomy, he had metastatic recurrence diagnosed with progressive hypercalcaemia; imaging revealed three pulmonary nodules consistent w...

The Endocrine Society recommends urinary or plasma metanephrines as first choice screening tests for phaeochromocytoma due to their high sensitivity. Test specificity is limited by the influence of many commonly prescribed medications resulting in false positive results and additional investigations. The aims of this retrospective study were to (1) Determine the diagnostic accuracy of urinary metanephrines using current cut-off values and (2) Evaluat...

We present the case and management of a 76 year old man who developed medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) as a result of 12 years of bisphosphonate and denosumab treatment for hypercalcaemia in the setting of metastatic parathyroid carcinoma.Within two years of his original parathyroidectomy, he had metastatic recurrence diagnosed with progressive hypercalcaemia; imaging revealed three pulmonary nodules consistent w...

Rare causes of severe androgen excess (AE) can present a diagnostic challenge to endocrinologists. Imaging may not identify occult ovarian pathology, and the detection of adrenal nodular disease may be indicative of incidental pathology. GnRH analogues can be used both as a medical treatment and as a diagnostic utility to confirm ovarian source, particularly in women with a preferential elevation of serum testosterone (T). In this case series, we present three cases highlighti...

Case history: A 47 year old male presented to his GP with non-specific symptoms of fatigue and weight gain. Thyroid function tests revealed elevated TSH (28.4 mU/l) with normal Free T4 (14.3 pmol/l). Anti-TPO antibodies were undetectable. A presumptive diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism was made and he was commenced on Levothyroxine which was titrated over 9 months to 150 mcg/d given a persistently elevated TSH. The patient was unable to tolerate this dose due to the deve...

Recent statistics indicate that prostate cancer (PC) is the most frequent cancer in men worldwide and is the leading cause of cancer death in men above 50 years of age. The Androgen receptor (AR), a member of the superfamily of nuclear hormone receptors, plays a well-established role in the development and progression of the disease. PC localized to the prostate is commonly treated with surgical removal of the gland and is often associated with a favorable outcome. However, me...

Cyclical Cushing’s syndrome is typically detected by collecting sequential daily early morning urine (EMU) samples for cortisol to creatinine ratio over a 28 day period. More recently nocturnal salivary cortisol (NSC) measurement has been shown to be a sensitive means of screening for Cushing’s syndrome. The Endocrine Society have suggested that NSC may be used to assess patients for cyclical Cushing’s however there is limited evidence that it correlates with th...

Cyclical Cushing’s syndrome is typically detected by collecting sequential daily early morning urine (EMU) samples for cortisol to creatinine ratio over a 28 day period. More recently nocturnal salivary cortisol (NSC) measurement has been shown to be a sensitive means of screening for Cushing’s syndrome. The Endocrine Society have suggested that NSC may be used to assess patients for cyclical Cushing’s however there is limited evidence that it correlates with th...

Topical testosterone gels are now a widely used method of testosterone replacement therapy and have been shown to be convenient and effective. The unintentional transfer of testosterone gel to children or partners by skin contact with the application site causing hyperandrogenism has been described.A 3-year-old well girl was referred for assessment of precocious puberty. Pubic hair had been first noted by her mother 9 months earlier. There was no history...