Endocrine Abstracts

Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) is a state of biochemical hypercortisolaemia with ACTH independence arising in the context of adrenal incidentalomas. There are no external discriminatory features of overt Cushing’s syndrome. 20 to 50% of adrenal incidentalomas are associated with MACS depending on the cut-offs used. The condition is associated with several cardiometabolic comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis and metabolic syndrome. It is ...

Adrenal androgen synthesis involves contributions from the classic, 11-oxygenated and alternative pathways. The zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex secretes androgen precursors such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione (A4) which undergo conversion in peripheral tissues to active androgens such as testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The adrenals may also produce smaller concentrations of T directly. A4 can be converted by the activity of adrenal ...

Adrenal incidentalomas are an increasingly common source of referral to our endocrine services. In most cases, simple radiological and biochemical assessment and patient reassurance are all that is required. The cases that do not require further evaluation will be summarised briefly. However, an increasing number of adrenal adenomata do require careful consideration and complex discussion, usually through an adrenal MDT. I will use a series of real life cases that have resulte...