Endocrinology Flashcards
1
Q
What is pheochromocytoma?
A
- adrenal medullary tumour that secretes catecholamines (adrenaline)
- very rare
2
Q
Causes of pheochromocytoma
A
occur in certain familial syndromes
- multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndrome
- neurofibromatosis
- von-Hippel Lindau disease
3
Q
Symptoms of pheochromocytoma
A
- headaches
- profuse sweating
- palpitations
- tremor
- pallor
4
Q
Signs of pheochromocytoma
A
- HTN
- postural hypotension
- hypertensive retinopathy
5
Q
Investigations for pheochromocytoma
A
- plasma metanephrines and normetanephrines
- 24hr urinary total catecholamines
- CT → look for tumour
6
Q
Treatment for pheochromocytoma
A
without HTN crisis:
- alpha blockers → phenoxybenzamine
- most patients eventually get tumour removed then managed medically
with HTN crisis
1. antihypertensive agents → phentolamine
7
Q
Signs of hypocalcaemia
A
- paraesthesia
- tetany
- seizures
- basal ganglia calcification
- cataracts
- Chvostek’s and Trousseau’s
8
Q
ECG abnormalities in hypocalcaemia
A
long QTc interval
9
Q
Causes of hypocalcaemia
A
- hypoparathyroidism
- acute pancreatitis
- hypophosphataemia
- hypomagnesaemia
- diuretics
10
Q
Signs of hypercalcaemia
A
- BONES
- renal STONES
- psychiatric GROANS
- abdominal MOANS
typical presentation = thirst, polyuria, constipation
11
Q
ECG abnormalities in hypercalcaemia
A
short QTc interval
12
Q
Causes of hypercalcaemia
A
- malignancies → myeloma, bone metastases, lymphoma
- hyperparathyroidism → primary and tertiary
