Miscellaneous endocrine

Question 1

What is acromegaly?

Answer 1

XS growth hormone

Hypersomatropism

Question 2

What causes acromegaly/hypersomatropism?

Answer 2

Pituitary tumours (old male cats)
Mammary tumour in in tact females (or females on progestogens)

Question 3

Give examples of acromegaly symptoms

Answer 3

Prognathism
Insulin resistant DM
Growth of extremities
Wide interdental spaces

Question 4

How is acromegaly diagnosed?

Answer 4

Increased IGF-1

Question 5

How can acromegaly be treated?

Answer 5

Spay female dogs
Control DM with insulin
Hypophysectomy (remove pituitary)

Question 6

What is a gastrinoma?

Answer 6

Pancreatic tumour - produces gastrin

remove surgically but may have mets

Question 7

What causes hyperaldosteronism in cats (not reported in dogs)?

Answer 7

Adrenal tumour producing aldosterone

Question 8

How can hyperaldosteronism be treated?

Answer 8

Restrict sodium, supplement potassium
Surgical excision of adrenal glands
Spironolactone

Question 9

What causes primary hyperparathyroidism?

Answer 9

Functional tumour producing PTH

Causes hypercalcaemia

Question 10

What are the symptoms of hyperparathyroidism?

Answer 10

PUPD, dehydration, dystrophic calcification, acute renal failure, rubber jaw (due to renal failure)

Question 11

What causes secondary hyperparathyroidism?

Answer 11

Renal or nutrition

Question 12

What is pseudohyperparathyroidism?

Answer 12

Inadequate response to PTH

Question 13

How does the parathyroid hormone affect calcium levels?

Answer 13

Hyperparathyroidism - hypercalcaemia

Hypoparathyroidism - hypocalcaemia

Question 14

What can cause hypothyroidism (failure to produce PTH)?

Answer 14

Primary - immune mediated

Secondary - removal of parathyroid gland

Question 15

How is hyperparathyroidism treated?

Answer 15

Removal of parathyroid
IVFT
Phosphate binders

Question 16

What are the symptoms of hypoparathyroidism?

Answer 16

Anxiety, tetany, muscle spasm, weakness, tachycardia, weak pulses (due to hypocalcaemia)

Question 17

How is hypoparathyroidism treated?

Answer 17

Emergency - IVFT and calcium glutinate (slow, use ECG)

Maintenance - calcium, Vit D

Question 18

What is an insulinoma a tumour of?

Answer 18

Pancreatic beta cells

Question 19

How does an insulinoma affect glucose levels?

Answer 19

Produces insulin

Persistent hypoglycaemia

Question 20

How is an insulinoma treated?

Answer 20

IV glucose
Frequent small meals avoiding simple sugars
Prednisolone
Oral anti-hyperglycaemic (glipizide)?

Question 21

What tumour presents similar to Cushing’s?

Answer 21

Macroadenoma

pituitary tumour - however patient gets duller when treated

Question 22

How are macro adenomas treated?

Answer 22

Hypophysectomy (pituitary removal)

Radiotherapy

Question 23

What is a phaeochromocytoma a tumour of? What does it secrete?

Answer 23

Adrenal medulla 
Secrets catecholamines (dopamine, adrenaline)

Question 24

How are phaeochromocytomas diagnosed and treated?

Answer 24

Dx: ultrasound
Tx: surgical excision, anti-hypertensive medications

Question 25

What breed is predisposed to pituitary dwarfism/hyposomatropism?

Answer 25

GSD

Question 26

How is pituitary dwarfism/hyposomatropism diagnosed?

Answer 26

IGF-1 or growth hormone assay

Question 27

How is pituitary dwarfism/hyposomatropism treated?

Answer 27

Progestagens
Check thyroid status
Do not beed