Endocrinology Flashcards
what is the incidence of adrenocortical carcinoma
1-2 per million people per year
is adrenocortical carcinoma functional or nonfunctional
either!
functional - Cushing syndrome
The majority of adrenocortical carcinomas present with a clinical syndrome of
hormone excess or Cushing syndrome alone or are mixed with virilization syndrome
additional sx - weight gain, weakness, and insomnia that develop quickly over 3 to 6 months
common findings on CT for adrenocortical carcinoma
mass greater than 4 cm with higher attenuation
irregular borders
calcification
invasion to surrounding structures with lymph node enlargement
most common sites of mets for adrenocortical carcinoma
liver
lungs
lymph nodes
bone
due to mets, what other imaging do ppl w adrenocortical carcinoma need
CT scan of chest
CT scan of liver
Bone scan
can cytology of a fine-needle aspiration distinguish between a benign adrenal mass and an adrenocortical carcinoma
no - It can also lead to metastasis in the needle core site
what is the only potentially curative tx for adrenocortical carcinoma
surgical resection
when is adjuvant mitotane recommended for adrenocortical carcinoma
high-grade disease
intra-operative tumor spillage
large tumors with vascular or capsular invasion
how long would mitotane be continued in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma
5 years after surgical resection for high risk
3 years after surgical resection for low risk
symptoms of Cushing syndrome
due to cortisol excess
proximal muscle weakness
weight gain
headache
oligomenorrhea
erectile dysfunction
osteoporosis
central obesity
moon facies
buffalo hump
supraclavicular fat pads
thin extremities
HTN
acanthosis nigricans
hirsutism
Which of the following zones of the adrenal gland is responsible for the production of catecholamines
adrenal medulla
produces epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine
what does the zona glomerulosa produce
the outermost layer
produces mineralocorticoids like aldosterone
what does the zona fasciculata produce
middle layer
produces glucocorticoids like cortisol
what does the zona reticula produce
innermost layer
produces androgens, such as dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione
Pheochromocytoma
a rare neuroendocrine tumor of the adrenal medulla which causes an excess production of catecholamines like epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine
signs and symptoms of pheochromocytoma
paroxysmal or sustained hypertension
headache
palpitations
diaphoresis
may have cardiac manifestations which can be life-threatening
lab testing for pheochromocytoma
plasma fractionated free metanephrines
plasma fractionated catecholamines
serum CgA
clonidine suppression testing
what is the most sensitive lab test for pheochromocytoma
plasma fractionated free metanephrines
if there is high suspicion of pheochromocytoma and you find that they have elevated plasma fractionated free metanephrines, what tests should you do next to help confirm
24-hour urine for fractionated metanephrines and creatinine
imaging for pheochromocytoma
noncontrast CT of the abdomen followed by an immediate follow-up CT with nonionic contrast using a washout protocol
Pheochromocytomas typically retain > 40% of the contrast after 15 minutes
what must be treated prior to surgery for pheochromocytoma
hypertension and tachydysrhythmias
what can be used to treat hypertension and tachydysrhythmias in pheochromocytoma esp prior to surgery
Alpha-blockers, such as phenoxybenzamin
CCB
^these are given 10-14 days prior to surgery
can be used alone or in combo
Cardioselective beta-blockers, such as metoprolol XL, should be administered for control of tachydysrhythmias only after blood pressure has been controlled - given 2-3 days prior to surgery
what do pheochromocytomas consist of
chromaffin cells
treatment for pheochromocytomas
complete adrenalectomy - usually performed laparoscopically
what is the most common clinical (lab) presentation of hyperparathyroidism
hypercalcemia
Classical presentations of hyperparathyroidism
bone disease
nephrolithiasis
weakness
fatigue
neurobehavioral sx like depression or psychosis
how do you diagnose hyperparathyroidism
If an elevated serum calcium concentration is found on routine testing, confirmation by repeat lab draw is the first step
If an elevated level is found on repeat lab draw, the next step in evaluation is a serum parathyroid hormone
what is considered diagnostic for primary hyperparathyroidism
Elevated serum calcium and elevated serum parathyroid hormone
tx for sx hyperparathyroidism
parathyroidectomy
tx for asx hyperparathyroidism
surgery - if serum calcium concentration of 1.0 mg/dL or more above the upper limit of normal, bone density of hip, lumbar spine, or distal radius greater than 2.5 standard deviations below normal, previous asx vertebral fx, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 60 mL/min, 24-hour urine calcium greater than 400 mg/day, nephrolithiasis on imaging, age < 50