Endocrinology Flashcards
(194 cards)
Chronic alcoholic patient with HTN and obesity presents with: Concentration of fat in the truncal region Development of small cervicodorsal fat pad Slightly ↑ urine free cortisol level 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test: suppression of a.m. cortisol production What is the diagnosis?
Pseudo-Cushing
Young marathon runner with BMI < 18 develops: Amenorrhea Urine pregnancy test: Negative Mild ↓ FSH and LH Normal TSH Normal prolactin What is the diagnosis?
Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea - context of a patient who exercises excessively - Other causes include eating disorders, stress and illness, nutritional disease (e.g., celiac disease), and > 10% loss of body weight. Dx: Clinical + low FSH and LH. May need MRI. Tx: Supportive. Less exercise, more calories, and possibly OCPs
Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. Diagnosis depends on?
Dx: Clinical + low FSH and LH. May need MRI.
Type 1 diabetic develops gradual onset: Fever, weakness, nausea, vomiting, sporadic abdominal pain, and tanned skin Alopecia Episodes of hypoglycemia on a previously stable insulin regimen ↓ BP Delayed reflexes ↓ Serum Na, ↑ K, and ↑ TSH Diagnosis?
Polyglandular autoimmune syndrome 2, also called Schmidt syndrome Diagnoses are hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency. Explanation These diagnoses can occur together as part of the polyglandular autoimmune syndrome 2, also called Schmidt syndrome. Know that you must replace the cortisol before you replace the thyroid hormone. Hopefully, you recognize the collection of classic signs and symptoms for both adrenal insufficiency and hypothyroidism. Then think about the relationships that you know exist between the 2. Recognize that this patient is not presenting with pituitary disease because the TSH is high, not low, and that the patient is tanned, so the ACTH is high, not low. Therefore, both the thyroid and adrenal diseases are primary. Three failing glands (pancreas, thyroid, and adrenal) suggest a polyglandular syndrome. Dx: Clinical + TSH + electrolytes + cosyntropin test (cortisol does not increase after ACTH). Tx: Replacement of levothyroxine, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids.
Schmidt syndrome. Diagnosis depends on?
Dx: Clinical + TSH + electrolytes + cosyntropin test (cortisol does not increase after ACTH).
What is the reason for the tanned appearance in Schmidt syndrome?
ACTH is high
Three failing glands (pancreas, thyroid, and adrenal) suggest a ________ syndrome.
Three failing glands (pancreas, thyroid, and adrenal) suggest a polyglandular syndrome.
Positive cosyntropin test
Cortisol does not increase after ACTH.
In Schmidt syndrome, what is the pre-treatment trigger?
Replace the cortisol before you replace the thyroid hormone.
Postmenopausal female on no meds presents with: Headaches and loss of peripheral vision Weight gain, constipation, alopecia Delayed reflexes ↓ Serum Na+ ↓ FSH and LH What is the diagnosis?
pituitary tumor causing mass effect, hypogonadism, and secondary hypothyroidism. Clues to a diagnosis of thyroid disease: weight gain, constipation, alopecia, delayed reflexes, hyponatremia, and the decreased gonadotropins. FSH and LH in a postmenopausal female are increased, not decreased. The presence of multiple endocrine derangements (thyroid disease + low gonadotropins) and headaches with vision loss suggest that the diagnosis is in the pituitary. Dx: Brain MRI + serum levels of pituitary hormones to screen for excess or deficiency is done for all tumors > 1 cm. Tx: Nonfunctional tumors that do not produce hormones but cause neurologic impairments are referred for transsphenoidal resection + replacement of deficiencies.
FSH and LH in a postmenopausal female are __creased, not __creased.
FSH and LH in a postmenopausal female are increased, not decreased.
Rx: nonfunctional pitituary tumor
Transphenoidal resection + hormone replacement
Highest LR+ for signs of hypothyroidism
- coarse skin - bradycardia - delayed ankle reflex C: The combination of signs that had the highest likelihood ratios (c) was associated with modest accuracy (LR+ 3.75; LR- 0.48).
Patient with diabetes ± warfarin use develops: Acute onset of headache Bitemporal hemianopsia ± Neck stiffness ± Confusion or loss of consciousness MRI: High density mass in the sella What is the diagnosis?
Pituitary apoplexy. Explanation The clue that the problem is in the pituitary is the presence of the bitemporal hemianopsia, which suggests a problem around the area of the optic chiasm. Compromise of vascular supply due to growth of adenoma usually is associated with antecedent adenoma symptoms, but hemorrhage into the gland usually is not. Dx: Brain MRI. Tx: Emergent glucocorticoids + neurosurgery consult.
Bitemporal hemianopsia suggests a problem near the ___ ___.
Bitemporal hemianopsia suggests a problem near the optic chiasm.
Compromise of vascular supply due to growth of adenoma usually is associated with antecedent adenoma symptoms, but _____ into the gland usually is not.
Compromise of vascular supply due to growth of adenoma usually is associated with antecedent adenoma symptoms, but hemorrhage into the gland usually is not.
Rx: pitituary apoplexy
Glucocorticoids+ emergency Surgery
The management of pituitary apoplexy includes emergency neurosurgical consult and ____
Glucocorticoids
Patient with +FH of MEN1 develops: Diabetes Weight loss Chronic diarrhea A beefy red tongue and cheilitis A painful, pruritic blistering rash What is the diagnosis?
Glucagonoma Explanation Dx: Clinical + serum glucagon concentration (> 500 pg/mL) + measurement of multiple molecular weight forms of glucagon + imaging to localize tumor (helical CT or MRI of abdomen) with biopsy. Tx: Surgical resection, if localized. Difficult and specialized treatment if metastases are present at diagnosis. All patients need good nutritional support.
Glucagonoma: Dx features
Clinical + serum glucagon concentration (> 500 pg/mL) + measurement of multiple molecular weight forms of glucagon + imaging to localize tumor (helical CT or MRI of abdomen) with biopsy.
Tx: Glucagonoma
Surgery C: Surgical resection, if localized. Difficult and specialized treatment if metastases are present at diagnosis. All patients need good nutritional support.
Patient presents with gradual onset: Weight gain Cold intolerance Constipation Alopecia Galactorrhea Amenorrhea Coarse hair Periorbital edema Nonpitting ankle edema ↓ HR and delayed reflexes ↓ Hgb and Hct with normal MCV and MCHC ↓ Serum Na ↑ Total cholesterol and serum prolactin ↑ TSH and ↓ FT4 What is the diagnosis?
primary hypothyroidism. Explanation Recognize that this script includes some manifestations of hypothyroidism, and then note that symptoms of other potential endocrine abnormalities also are present (galactorrhea and amenorrhea—which suggest hyperprolactinemia). Then, consider the relationship between thyroid disease and the prolactin levels. Remember that hypothyroidism causes hyperprolactinemia. Do not diagnose a prolactinoma until you have looked at the thyroid 1st. The labs tell you that the thyroid problem is not originating in the pituitary because the TSH is high, not low. Dx: Clinical + TSH + FT4. Tx: Replacement of levothyroxine.
Why can a patient with primary hypothyroidism have galactorrhea and amenorrhea?
Hypothyroidism causes hyperprolactinemia. Explanation: Hypothyroidism predisposes to hyperprolactinemia. However, basal serum prolactin concentrations are normal in most hypothyroid patients [38], and only the serum prolactin response to stimuli, such as thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), is increased [39]. In the few hypothyroid patients who have elevated basal serum prolactin concentrations, the values return to normal when the hypothyroidism is corrected [40,41]. It is important to recognize hypothyroidism as a potential cause of an enlarged pituitary gland (due to thyrotroph hyperplasia, lactotroph hyperplasia, or both) and hyperprolactinemia, and not to confuse this entity with a lactotroph adenoma. (See “Causes, presentation, and evaluation of sellar masses”.) The mechanism of hyperprolactinemia in hypothyroidism is not known
How does hypothyroidism cause enlargement of the pituitary gland?
- thyrotroph hyperplasia - lactotroph hyperplasia It is important to recognize hypothyroidism as a potential cause of an enlarged pituitary gland (due to thyrotroph hyperplasia, lactotroph hyperplasia, or both) and hyperprolactinemia, and not to confuse this entity with a lactotroph adenoma.