1/25. Adrenal scintigraphy with 131-I-adosterol.A new adrenal scanning agent, adosterol (131I-6beta-iodomethyl-19-norcholest-5(10)-en-3beta-ol) has been evaluated in three female patients with hypercorticism. In one case, characterised by recurrent adrenocortical hyperactivity after bilateral adrenalectomy, a remnant of adrenal tissue was detected. In two other cases, the presence of an adrenal tumour could be excluded. The scan made on the 6th day after the administration of adosterol was found to be superior in quality to that made on the 13th day.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = hypercorticism, adrenocortical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/25. adrenocortical carcinoma in two female children.adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare tumor in children. This tumor is more likely to be hormonally active in children than in adults and tends to cause a variety of symptoms, which may mimic other benign endocrinopathies. These tumors are usually diagnosed at advanced stages and portend a dismal prognosis. We describe two cases of adrenocortical carcinoma. One child presented with Cushingoid symptoms secondary to hypercortisolism, including amenorrhea, hirsutism and weight gain. The other child presented with precocious puberty. Both children underwent resection of the tumors. We describe their presenting symptoms, postoperative course, adjuvant therapy and clinical course. Pertinent literature regarding the anatomy of the adrenal gland, pathology of adrenocortical carcinoma, factors influencing outcome, diagnostic modalities and treatment, are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.02718158998956keywords = adrenocortical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/25. Hypercortisolism in childhood: shortcomings of conventional diagnostic criteria.Two patients are described in whom hypercortisolism occurred prepubertally as a consequence of bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia. In contrast with the manifestations of Cushing's syndrome in adults, these children presented with obesity and reduced stature and no other symptoms. Both patients excreted amounts of urinary 17-OHCS before and during a conventional suppression test with dexamethasone (0.5 mg every six hours) which were within the usual normal range. However, when urinary 17-OHCS excretion was expressed per gram of urinary creatinine or per square meter of surface area, and when the dose of dexamethasone was tailored to body mass (20mug/kg/day) the results were clearly abnormal, as were plasma corticoids and (in one patient) cortisol secretion rate. Resumption of linear growth occurred after bilateral adrenalectomy in both patients and was associated, in the one patient so studied, by a return of hypoglycemia-stimulated increases in plasma growth hormone levels from previously suppressed values to the normal range, and by a slight increase in the fasting plasma somatomedin concentration. The observations suggest that pediatric patients with hypercortisolism are likely to be overlooked when conventional criteria for laboratory diagnosis are used, but can be recognized by the simple diagnostic modifications used in these studies.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.01359079499478keywords = adrenocortical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/25. Dual sites of inhibition by metyrapone of human adrenal steroidogenesis: correlation of in vivo and in vitro studies.In a patient with pituitary ACTH-dependent adrenal hyperplasia (AH), the standard oral metyrapone test resulted in a decrease in "apparent 11beta-hydroxylase activity" (-48%) accompanied by an increase in "apparent cholesterol cleavage activity" ( 318%). When incubated adrenal mitochondria from this patient were studied, metyrapone inhibited both 11beta-hydroxylation of labeled 11-deoxycorticosterone and cleavage of labeled cholesterol, although at 0.1 and 1.0 mM metyrapone concentrations, depression of cholesterol cleavage (23 and 54%, respectively) was less than that of 11beta-hydroxylation (62 and 84%, respectively). The inhibition of cholesterol cleavage by metyrapone (26 and 62%, at 0.1 and 1.0 mM concentrations, respectively) was also demonstrable in adrenal mitochondria from a patient with hypercorticism resulting from an ACTH-independent adrenal adenoman (AA). metyrapone administration to AA resulted in a significant depression of both 11beta-hydroxylase (-62%) and cholesterol cleavage (-36%) "apparent activities"; when metyrapone and ACTH were given together to this patient, however, only 11beta-hydroxylase "apparent activity" diminished (-26%), while cholesterol cleavage "apparent activity" was greatly augmented ( 231%), thereby simulating the results of the standard metyrapone test in AH. These data demonstrate that metyrapone inhibits both mitochondrial reactions involved in cortisol synthesis--initial cholesterol cleavage and final 11beta-hydroxylation; these effects probably result from interference by this agent with the interaction between substrate and related cytochrome P - 450. Since ACTH has a major stimulatory effect on cholesterol cleavage but not on 11beta-hydroxylation, the outcome of metyrapone administration is thus determined by whether a change in ACTH level ensues: while 11beta-hydroxylation is inhibited by metyrapone under any circumstances, total steroid output rises when a compensatory ACTH increase overcomes metyrapone inhibition of cholesterol conversion into pregnenolone and falls when metyrapone inhibition of this reaction is unopposed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.98640920500522keywords = hypercorticism (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/25. Cushing's syndrome secondary to adrenocorticotropin-independent macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia due to activating mutations of GNAS1 gene.ACTH-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH) is an uncommon cause of Cushing's syndrome characterized by bilateral nodular adrenocortical hyperfunction in the presence of suppressed ACTH levels. We investigated whether activating mutations in the ACTH receptor (MC2-R) or G(s alpha) (GNAS1) genes might be involved in AIMAH genesis. Five women with Cushing's syndrome due to AIMAH, confirmed by histological studies, and no signs of McCune-Albright syndrome were selected for molecular analysis of these genes. The single exon of the MC2-R gene and exons 8 and 9 of the GNAS1 gene were amplified by PCR in genomic dna from adrenal nodules and peripheral blood. Direct sequencing revealed only MC2-R wild-type sequences. GNAS1 PCR products at denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed abnormal migration patterns in adrenal tissues of three patients. Automatic sequencing showed two different activating mutations at codon Arg(201) of GNAS1, a substitution by histidine in two cases and by serine in one case. In conclusion, we found two different gsp mutations in three patients with Cushing's syndrome due to AIMAH, and we speculate whether they belong to the spectrum of McCune-Albright syndrome or whether these are the first reported cases of AIMAH due to gsp mutations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.9524590130041keywords = adrenocortical hyperfunction, hyperfunction, adrenocortical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/25. Macronodular adrenal hyperplasia causing Cushing's syndrome: report of two cases and an overview.Of the various entities producing adrenal hyperfunction, nodular adrenal hyperplasia is rarely described, however, recent reports have established it as a distinct cause of Cushing's syndrome. Although the etiology of this disease remains uncertain, two distinct forms are recognised, namely: macronodular hyperplasia and micronodular dysplasia. Establishing the diagnosis preoperatively is difficult but essential to ensure the correct treatment is performed. Two cases of macronodular hyperplasia are reported herein followed by a review of the available literature on this subject.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.19230722957222keywords = hyperfunction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/25. Macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia in a postmenopausal woman.This case report describes the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome due to macronodular adrenal hyperplasia in an elderly woman who presented with fatigue, muscle weakness and oedema, and recent excessive bruising. Long-standing disease and comorbidity precluded adrenalectomy. Despite treatment with metyrapone and diuretics, the patient died after two months hospitalisation. Postmortal examination revealed overexpression of luteinising hormone (LH) receptors in the adrenal glands, suggesting that the postmenopausal rise in LH may have a role in adrenal hyperplasia and hypercortisolism.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.054363179979119keywords = adrenocortical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/25. Endocrinopathies of hyperfunction: Cushing's syndrome and aldosteronism.Increased function of the adrenal cortex is a normal response in times of physiologic and psychologic stress. Adrenal cortical secretions (e.g., glucocorticoids, aldosterone) orchestrate a multitude of internal processes aimed at maintaining homeostasis and psychologic integrity. Many patients admitted to a critical care unit will manifest some increase, even minor, in adrenal function. However, excessive secretions of these hormones can have a lethal effect of fluid and electrolyte balance, energy metabolism, and immune function. Cushing's syndrome denotes a disorder characterized by increased circulating levels of glucocorticoids (primarily cortisol). An easily recognizable disorder, it may arise from pathology of the adrenal cortex or the anterior pituitary glands, ectopic secretions from a nonendocrine tumor, or from excessive doses of exogenously administered glucocorticoids. Cushing's syndrome is rarely an admitting diagnosis to critical care but is a disorder that can seriously affect recovery from coexisting illnesses if not treated. Aldosteronism, although rare, will often be diagnosed after admission to a critical care unit for management of troublesome hypertension, hypokalemia, congestive heart failure, and various dysrhythmias. Suspicion of the diagnosis should always arise when these manifestations occur, particularly when hypokalemia is refractory to potassium supplementation. Without timely diagnosis and treatment, these patients will succumb to lethal dysrhythmias.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.76922891828886keywords = hyperfunction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/25. Treatment of major depression with steroid suppressive drugs.The hypercorticism frequently observed in major depression, unaccompanied by signs of Cushing's syndrome, is still poorly understood. One suicidal young woman, with very high cortisol levels and unusual resistance to dexamethasone suppression, is described. She was successfully treated with steroid suppressive drugs (aminoglutethimide, metyrapone), had a prompt and complete remission and has remained well for more than two years on no medication. This success prompted an on-going clinical trial of this therapy. The available drugs and a working hypothesis of their action are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.98640920500522keywords = hypercorticism (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/25. Hyperprealbuminemia, euthyroid hyperthyroxinemia, Zollinger-Ellison-like syndrome and hypercorticism in a pancreatic endocrine tumour.prealbumin, one of the main thyroxine transport proteins, has recently been shown to be a valuable immunohistochemical marker of neuroendocrine tumours. We report the case of a multisecretory pancreatic endocrine tumour whose prealbumin secretion was so high that it produced a peak on routine serum protein electrophoresis and induced a euthyroid hyperthyroxinemia. The maximal binding capacity of prealbumin for thyroxine was indeed markedly increased, whereas its affinity for this hormone was normal. The tumour was associated with gastric hyperacidity and hypergastrinemia thereby evoking a zollinger-ellison syndrome. The secretin stimulation test and gastrin tumoural immunohistochemistry were, however, negative. We suggest that the concomitant tumoural production of gastrin-releasing peptide was responsible for the gastric hyperacidity and hypergastrinemia. This hormone probably also accounted for a moderate hypercorticism.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4.9320460250261keywords = hypercorticism (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |