Pathology of the adrenal glands

Question 1

endogenous causes of cushing syndrome

Answer 1

adrenal adenoma 
adrenal carcinoma 
adrenal hyperplasia 
McCune Albright syndrome 
elevated levels of cortisol with low levels of acth

Question 2

clinical features of cushing syndrome

Answer 2

• central obesity, weight gain, rounded face (moon faces)
• hypertension
• facial plethora
• depression
• thin skin
• glucose intolerance
• proximal limb weakness
• osteoporosis

Question 3

MEN 1 abnormalities

Answer 3

3 P’s
parathyroid gland - hyperplasia and adenoma
pancreas - endocrine tumors of the pancreas
pituitary - adenomas (prolactinoma common)
gastrinomas in the GIT common in duodenum

Question 4

MEN 2A syndromes

Answer 4

germline mutation in RET proto oncogene
pheochromocytoma
medullary carcinoma of thyroid
parathyroid hyperplasia

Question 5

MEN 2B syndromes

Answer 5

overlaps with MEN 2A
germline point mutation with single amino acid change in RET gene
medullary thyroid carcinomas
pheochromocytoma