Endocrine/Reproductive Flashcards
What is undescended testes?
Usually testes develop in abdomen then migrate down through inguinal canal and into scrotum.
If testes don’t make it out of abdomen they are undescended testes (aka cryptorchidism)
Complications of undescended testes in older children or after puberty?
Higher risk of testicular torsion, infertility and testicular cancer.
RF for undescended testes?
- Fhx of undescended testes
- Low birth weight
- Small for gestational age
- Prematurity
- Maternal smoking during preggo
Mx of undescended testes?
In newborns - watch and wait as in most cases testes will descend in first 3-6 mths.
If not - Orchidopexy (surgical correction of undescended testes) should be carried out between 6 and 12 months of age.
What is testicular torsion?
Urological emergency - twisting of testicle around spermatic cord due to inadequate attachment of tissues within the scrotum. This leads to obstruction of blood flow to affected testicle which can result in testicular necrosis.
Sx of testicular torsion?
- Sudden onset, severe pain in one testicle
- The affected testicle may upwards and horizontal in the scrotum
- Unilateral loss of cremaster reflex
- Persistent pain despite elevation of the testicle (negative Prehn’s sign)
- N+V due to pain
Ix for testicular torsion?
Doppler USS
Urinalysis
Tx of testicular torsion?
Bilateral orchidopexy - Fixation of both testicles.
What are some RF of congenital hypothyroidism?
- Medication use during pregnancy
- Maternal advanced age
- Fhx of thyroid disease
- Low birth weight
- Preterm birth
- Multiple pregnancies
Sx of congenital hypothyroidsim?
- Prolonged neonatal jaundice
- Poor feeding and weight gain
- Hypothermia
- Macroglossia
- Large fontanelles
- Distended abdomen with umbilical hernia
- Dry skin
- Hoarse cry
- Myxoedema: coarse features, large head and oedema of extremities and genitalia
- Bradycardia
Ix for congenital hypothyroidism?
- Newborn screening
- Bloods - Elevated TSH and dec. free T4
- Imaging - thyroid USS
Mx for congenital hypothyroidism?
Thyroid hormone replacement therapy with Levothyroxine
Sx of delayed puberty?
- Lack or delay in the development of secondary sexual characteristics
- Primary amenorrhoea in females
- Absent pubic/axillary hair
- Delayed growth
- Psychological distress associated with delayed development compared to peers
Ix for delayed puberty?
Initial Ix:
* Tanner staging - Orchidometer
* Hand-wrist X-ray of left hand to assess bone age
Further Ix:
* Endocrine function tests to rule out hypothyroidism or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (LH, FSH)
* Genetic testing
* MRI brain
Tx of delayed puberty?
- Short courses of low-dose testosterone
- Gradually inc. doses of oestrogen w/ cyclical progestogen
- Bisphosphonates - bone protection