Pathology of the Adrenal Glands Flashcards

(44 cards)

1
Q

Briefly describe how congenital problems can cause adrenocortical hyperplasia?

A

Group of autosomal recessive disorders
Deficiency/ lack of enzyme required for biosynthesis
Altered biosynthesis leads to increased androgen production
Reduced cortisol stimulates ACTH release and cortical hyperplasia

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2
Q

What are the 2 causes of endogenous ACTH production in acquired adrenocortical hyperplasia?

A
Pituitary adenoma (Cushing's disease)
Ectopic ACTH (paraneoplastic syndrome - SCLC)
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3
Q

With adrenocortical hyperplasia, is the adrenal gland enlargement diffuse or nodular?

A

Could be either
Diffuse - ACTH driven
Nodular - usually ACTH independent

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4
Q

What is the most common presentation of adrenocortical tumours?

A
Adults M=F 
Incidental finding
Hormonal effects 
Mass lesion 
Carcinoma with necrosis can cause fever
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5
Q

What do adrenocortical adenomas look like?

A
Well circumscribed and differentiated
encapsulated lesions 
2-3 cm 
Yellow/ yellow brown surface 
Small nuclei, rare mitoses
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6
Q

Are most adrenocortical adenomas functional or non-functional?

A

Most commonly non-functional but can be functional

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7
Q

Are most adrenocortical carcinomas more likely to be functional?

A

Yes

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8
Q

Are adrenocortical carcinomas common?

A

No - rare

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9
Q

Where do adrenocortical carcinomas spread?

A

Local invasion - retroperitoneum, kidney
Mets - usually vascular (liver, lung and bone)
Peritoneum and pleura
regional lymph nodes

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10
Q

Adrenocortical carcinomas and adenomas can be hard to tell apart. What features are suggestive of malignancy?

A
Large size (>50g, often >20cm)
Haemorrhage and necrosis 
Frequent mitoses, atypical mitoses 
lack of clear cells 
capsular or vascular invasion
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11
Q

What is the only definite criteria for an adrenocortical carcinoma?

A

Metastatic spread

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12
Q

Define primary aldosteronism.

A

Autonomous production of aldosterone independent of it’s regulators (ATII and K+)

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13
Q

How does primary aldosteronism present?

A

Significant hyperthyriodism
Hypokalaemia (~30% cases)
Alkalosis

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14
Q

What are the 4 subtypes of 1y aldosteronism?

A

Adrenal adenoma – Conn’s syndrome
Bilateral adrenal hyperplasia
Rare – genetic mutations and unilateral hyperplasia

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15
Q

How do you confirm aldosterone excess?

A

Measure Plasma aldosterone & renin (aldo:renin ratio)
Ratio >750 then Ix with saline suppression test
Failure of plasma aldosterone to suppress by >50% with 2L normal saline confirms 1y aldosteronism

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16
Q

How do you decide what the cause of the 1y aldosteronism is?

A

Confirm sub-type:
Adrenal CT – adenoma
Sometimes adrenal vein sampling to confirm adenoma is true source of aldosterone excess

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17
Q

How is bilateral adrenal hyperplasia managed?

A

Spironolactone or Epelerone (MR anatgonists)

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18
Q

How is 1y aldosteronism caused by an adrenal adenoma managed?

A

Unilateral laproscopic adrenalectomy - cures hypokalaemia and HTN in 30-70% cases

19
Q

What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia?

A

Rare conditions associated with enzyme defects in the steroid pathway.

20
Q

What is the most common enzyme defect associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia?

A

21a-hydroxylase deficiency

21
Q

Why is congenital adrenal hyperplasia a problem?

A

Altered biosynthesis leads to androgen excess. Decreased cortisol production stimulates ACTH release and cortical hyperplasia

22
Q

What investigations are required for CAH?

A

Basal (or stimulated) 17-hydroxylase progesterone (key enzyme that helps us make cortisol and aldosterone)

23
Q

What is the classical presentation of CAH?

A

males: poor weight gain
Adrenal insufficiency
Decreased Na+ but high potassium
Females: genital ambiguity

24
Q

What S&S are seen in non-classical presentation of CAH?

A

hirsutes, acne, oligomenorrhoea, precocious puberty, infertility

25
What are the prinicples of treatment of CAH in a child?
``` Timely recognition required Glucocorticoid replacement Mineralocorticoid replacement (in some) Surgical correction of ambiguous genitalia Achieve maximal growth ```
26
If CAH is realised in an adult, what treatment principles are required?
Control androgen excess Restore fertility Avoid steroid over-replacement
27
What are acquired forms of adrenocortical hyperplasia?
Endogenous ACTH production (ituitary adenoma or ectopic ACTH from other tumour: paraneoplastic syndrome) Bilateral adrena enlargement
28
The 2 forms of adrenocrotical hyperplasia are diffuse and nodular. What differentiates them?
Diffuse: ACTH driven Nodular: ACTH independent
29
What can cause secondary adrenalcortical hypofunction?
Failure to stimulate adrenal cortex (hypothamalic disorder) | Suppression of adrenal cortex
30
What can cause acute primary adrenalcortical hypofunction?
Rapid withdrawl of steroid treatment Adrenal crisis in pts with chronic adrenocortical insufficiecy Massive adrenal haemorrhage
31
How is adrenalcortical insufficiency treated?
Hydrocortisone Fludrocortisone Education
32
What test is used to diagnose adrenalcortical insufficiency?
Short Synacthen test
33
What colour are phaeochromocytomas typically described as?
Tan
34
Which cells are phaeochormocytomas derived from?
Chromaffin cells of adrenal medulla
35
What do phaeochromocytomas secrete?
Cathecholamines
36
What scan can detect phaeochromocytomas and neuroblastomas?
MIBG scan
37
How are phaeochromocytomas treated?
Surgical excision HTN treatment Full alpha and beta-blockade - Phenoxybenzamine and Atenolol Fluid and/or blood replacement
38
Describe both normal and results showing adrenal insufficiency from a short synacthen test.
Measure plasma cortisol before and 30 mins after IV ACTH injection Normal: baseline >250nol/L Post-ACTH >480nmol/L Addisons – baseline is very low Post-ACTH rise is very high
39
What are the biochemical abnormalities associated with phaeochormocytoma?
``` Hyperglycaemia Decreased K+ (maybe) High haemotocrit Mild hypercalcaemia lactic acidosis - in absence of shock ```
40
In the case of phaeochromocytoma, who should be investigated?
``` Family members with syndromes resistant HTN <50yo with HTN Classical symptoms Consider Ix if HTN and hyperglycaemia ```
41
What are the classical symtpoms of phaeochromocytoma?
``` “dreadful” “feeling of impending doom” Pallor Anxiety constipation Weight loss abdominal pain Pyrexia and sweating Hypertension postural hypotension Headache palpitations ```
42
Why are phaeochromocytomas known as the 10% tumour?
``` 10% exra-adrenal 10% bilateral 10% malignant 10% not associated with HTN 10-25% familial ```
43
How is MEN inherited?
Autosomal doinant genetic condition
44
Briefly , what is Von-Hippel-Lindau syndrome?
Mutation in HIF 1-alpha Autosomal dominant Range of ascular tumours Family screening vital