57 T_h e adrenal glands and other abdominal endocrine disorders

ADRENAL HAEMORRHAGE Definition Adrenal haemorrhage is a serious condition that can result in adren...

ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY Adrenal insu ffi ciency may be primary , secondary or tertiary . Primary insu...

ANATOMY Adrenal glands The weight of a normal adrenal gland is approximately 4 /uni00A0 g. The a...

Acute adrenal insufficiency (adrenal or Addisonian crisis) This is a medical emergency . Owing to ...

Adrenocortical carcinoma Definition ACC is a rare aggressive malignancy that arises from the adren...

Chronic adrenal insufficiency Patients with chronic adrenal insu ffi ciency may also be di ffi cult to...

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (adrenogenital syndrome) Virilisation and adrenal insu ffi ciency in...

Conn’s syndrome (primary hyperaldosteronism) Definition First described in 1957 in a patient with ...

Cushing’s syndrome Definition Hypercortisolism may arise as a result of excess ACTH secretion (te...

EMBRYOLOGY There are two distinct functional units in the adrenal gland: cortex and medulla. The ...

Extra-adrenal paraganglia Paraganglia are neuroendocrine cells associated with the autonomic nerv...

INCIDENTALOMA Definition An asymptomatic adrenal mass detected on imaging not performed for suspec...

INTRODUCTION Two major systems are held responsible for the regulation of homeostasis of the hum...

Learning objectives Adrenal gland To understand the investigation and diagnosis of disorders • of...

Metastases Definition Adrenal metastases are not uncommon and often portend - disseminated incurab...

PHYSIOLOGY The outer zona glomerulosa secretes the C21 steroid aldosterone. The zona fasciculata ...

Treatment Medical Metyrapone or ketoconazole therapy reduces steroid synthesis and secretion by C...