1/268. The elevated serum alkaline phosphatase--the chase that led to two endocrinopathies and one possible unifying diagnosis.A 39-year-old Chinese man with hypertension being evaluated for elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) levels was found to have an incidental right adrenal mass. The radiological features were characteristic of a large adrenal myelolipoma. This mass was resected and the diagnosis confirmed pathologically. His blood pressure normalised after removal of the myelolipoma, suggesting that the frequently observed association between myelolipomas and hypertension may not be entirely coincidental. Persistent elevation of the SAP levels and the discovery of hypercalcaemia after surgery led to further investigations which confirmed primary hyperparathyroidism due to a parathyroid adenoma. The patient's serum biochemistry normalised after removal of the adenoma. The association of adrenal myelolipoma with primary hyperparathyroidism has been reported in the literature only once previously. Although unconfirmed by genetic studies this association may possibly represent an unusual variation of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = endocrine (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/268. Unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy followed by contralateral retroperitoneoscopic partial adrenalectomy in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a syndrome.We report the first patient who had bilateral pheochromocytoma associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a syndrome (MEN 2a) and underwent unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy followed by contralateral retroperitoneoscopic partial adrenalectomy 2 years later. The postoperative course was uneventful both times, and the patient was cured of hypertension without any need for steroid replacement. Endoscopic partial adrenalectomy is a minimally invasive procedure for pheochromocytoma with mild symptoms. We believe that this procedure has considerable potential for treating bilateral pheochromocytoma, which is frequently observed in patients with MEN 2a.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = endocrine (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/268. multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a with the identical somatic mutation in medullary thyroid carcinoma and pheochromocytoma without germline mutation at the corresponding site in the RET proto-oncogene.A germline mutation either in exon 10 or 11 of the RET proto-oncogene is found in the majority of patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a (MEN 2A). A 41-year-old female patient was referred for further evaluation of incidentally discovered right adrenal tumor. She had bilateral adrenal pheochromocytomas and medullary thyroid carcinomas detected by endocrinological and radiological examination, and diagnosed as MEN 2A. Molecular genetic testing of the RET exons 10 and 11 exhibited the identical somatic missense mutation at codon 634 in both tumors but did not confirm germline mutations in the corresponding sites. Possible mechanisms for tumorigenesis in this patient are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = endocrine (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/268. carcinoma of the thyroid gland, adenoma of the adrenal cortex and peptic ulcer: an unreported association.A 39-year-old man, operated on for duodenal ulcer, was found to have a papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, an aldosterone-producing adenoma of the adrenal cortex, and a recurrence of a peptic ulcer. The probable coincidental occurrence of these diseases in this patient is suggested. Nevertheless, careful investigation of the other endocrine glands in patients with endocrine tumors is recommended.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = endocrine (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/268. Cytogenetic and CGH studies of four neuroendocrine tumors and tumor-derived cell lines of a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.A malignant insulinoma (LOHG-I), a carcinoid of the lung (LOHG-L), a parathyroid adenoma (LOHG-NSA), and a fibroma (LOHG-F) were obtained from a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). Long-term cultures were established. Essential neurobiological properties of the cell lines were proven immunocytochemically and by electron microscopy. Molecular analysis of the germline dna showed a 4 bp deletion in exon 3 of the MEN1 gene. Cytogenetic and CGH analyses of the tumors/tumor cell lines revealed diploidy and balanced and unbalanced structural aberrations different for each tumor. chromosomes 6q21, 11q and 17q were most frequently involved in clonal structural aberrations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 9keywords = endocrine (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/268. somatostatin receptor scintigraphy for early detection of regional and distant metastases of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid.Three patients are described who had regional and distant metastases of medullary thyroid cancer detected by somatostatin receptor scintigraphy but not by CT; two had minimal disease that was amenable to surgery. The first patient had been followed for 2 years before having a repeated scan and positive CT, with subsequent surgical removal of metastatic paratracheal nodes. The plasma calcitonin level, however, did not approach normal values after surgery, and a third scan showed persistence of focal uptake in the left paratracheal area of the lower neck, whereas CT was negative. At repeated exploration, a tumor mass of medullary carcinoma, embedded in lymphatic tissue, was removed. Nine months after the last surgical procedure, calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen levels were normal. The second patient underwent microdissection of the mediastinum and removal of two metastatic nodes that were demonstrable only by the scintigraphic technique. The plasma calcitonin level subsequently became normal. The third patient, with multiple endocrine neoplasia IIB and associated pheochromocytoma, had bony metastatic involvement of the left shoulder, demonstrable initially on somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and subsequently with radioiodinated metaiodobenzylguanidine but not on CT.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = endocrine (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/268. Amphicrine tumor.The term amphicrine refers to cells, and tumors, which show both exocrine and endocrine features. Author s aim was to analyse the characteristics of these neoplasms. 40 suspicious cases were reviewed. Mucin-stains (PAS, diastase-PAS, Stains-all, Alcian-blue), immunohistochemistry (antibodies against Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE), and chromogranin a (CGA), and electronmicroscopic studies were performed to demonstrate exocrine and/or endocrine features of the tumor cells. By means of these methods, 16 cases turned out to be amphicrine tumors. Among them, there were 4 sinonasal, 1 bronchial, 1 mediastinal, 8 gastrointestinal and 2 suprarenal gland neoplasms. In connection to the subject, a brief review is given of amphicrine tumor, regarding its etiological and pathological aspects. These tumors form a distinct clinicopathological entity and should be separated from both neuroendocrine tumors and adenocarcinomas.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = endocrine (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/268. A novel case of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a associated with two de novo mutations of the RET protooncogene.We report a novel case of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a (MEN 2A) associated with two mutations of the protooncogene RET. One affects codon 634 and causes a cysteine to arginine substitution; the second at codon 640 causes an alanine to glycine substitution in the transmembrane region. The two mutations were present on the same RET allele and were detected in germline and tumor dna. Both mutations were de novo, i.e. they were not found in the dna of the parents or relatives. Immunohistochemical and RT-PCR analysis showed that the pheochromocytoma expressed calcitonin as well as both RET alleles. A cell line established from the tumor and propagated in culture sustained the expression of RET and calcitonin, as did the original pheochromocytoma. Because the patient presented with medullary thyroid carcinoma and pheochromocytoma without parathyroid gland involvement, we speculate that this clinical picture could be correlated with the two RET mutations and to the unusual calcitonin production. This is the first report of a MEN 2A case due to two mutations of the RET gene and associated with a calcitonin-producing pheochromocytoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = endocrine (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/268. Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema as the chief manifestation of a pheochromocytoma: a case report of MEN 2A with pedigree analysis of the RET proto-oncogene.Pheochromocytomas are rare neoplasias of the adrenal medulla which generally present with paroxysmal or sustained hypertension. Cardiogenic pulmonary edema is a common feature of these tumors, but few cases have been described with noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. We report a pheochromocytoma with the principle manifestation of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and characterize a genetic lesion associated with the disorder. A 30-year-old man was admitted with abdominal pain and breathlessness. x-Ray examination of the chest revealed a massive, diffuse infiltration of the left lung without cardiomegaly. No paroxysmal blood pressure fluctuations or heart failure were evident during the entire course, and the infiltrate and dyspnea resolved in three days without inotropic or diuretic agents. serum norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were elevated twenty and fifty times above normal, respectively. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a (MEN 2A). Mutations in the RET proto-oncogene have been described recently in patients with MEN 2A. mutation analysis of selected RET exonic sequences identified a germline mutation at codon 634 in exon 11 of the RET proto-oncogene. The mutation introduces a transition encoding a non-conservative substitution from TGC (Cys) to CGC (Arg) and creates a novel restriction site recognized by HhaI. We further screened for this mutation among four of the proband's relatives by HhaI restriction analysis. One asymptomatic family member was identified who subsequently elected prophylactic total thyroid removal. Histological examination of this specimen confirmed the presence of medullary thyroid carcinoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = endocrine (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/268. Giant adrenal cortical carcinoma, clinically "nonfunctional": report of a case containing cytoplasmic hyaline globules of vimentin.Adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare neoplasm that affects all age groups, with a bimodal peak of incidence, in young individuals in the first decade or two of life and in older subjects in the fifth to seventh decades. It may be clinically "functional" with Cushing's syndrome, virilization, or feminization, or it may be "nonfunctional." We report on the case of a 42-yr-old woman who complained of abdominal pain and a large adrenal tumor measuring 20 cm in size. No endocrine symptoms were observed. Laboratory tests showed increased levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), serum cortisol, and urinary free cortisol. Cytohistologic features were typical of ACC. A striking presence of hyaline cytoplasmatic globules was seen in cytologic smears and histologically, being immunoreactive for vimentin, consistent with an intracellular store of intermediate filaments. The tumor showed high proliferative activity (40%) with Ki-67 and negativity for p53, cerbB2, and bcl-2. Although hyaline globules are more frequent in pheochromocytomas and other neoplasms, they may also be present in ACC. These globules may be observed in cytologic smears. Also, the identification and immunohistochemical characterization of these hyaline globules in metastases may be useful in determining the origin of primary occult tumors. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:394-397.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = endocrine (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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