Diagnostic dilemma in Cushing's syndrome: discrepancy between patient-reported and physician-assessed manifestations.

PURPOSE: Early diagnosis and immediate treatment of Cushing's syndrome (CS) are critical for a better prognosis but remain a challenge. However, few comprehensive reports have focused on this issue or investigated whether patient-reported manifestations are consistent with physician-assessed symptoms of CS. This study aimed to clarify the differences in patient-reported and physician-assessed manifestations of signs and symptoms of CS that prevent early diagnosis. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included 52 patients with CS (16 with Cushing's disease and 36 with adrenal CS). Upon clinical diagnosis, medical records were used to independently review the patient-reported and physician-assessed manifestations of typical (such as purple striae and proximal myopathy) and nonspecific features (such as hirsutism and hypertension). The correlations and differences between the patient-reported and physician-assessed manifestations were then analyzed. RESULTS: We observed a positive correlation between the total number of manifestations of nonspecific features reported by patients and those assessed by physicians, but not for typical features. Moreover, manifestations reported by the patients were less frequent than those assessed by physicians for typical features, leading to discrepancies between the two groups. In contrast, there were no differences in most nonspecific features between the patient-reported and physician-assessed manifestations. Notably, the concordance between patient-reported and physician-assessed manifestations of typical features was not associated with urinary free cortisol levels. CONCLUSION: Regardless of disease severity, patients often do not complain of the typical features of CS that are crucial for formulating a diagnosis.

Thyroid dysfunction due to trace element deficiency-not only selenium but also zinc.

INTRODUCTION: Levels of serum selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) decrease when total parental nutrition (TPN) is administered without trace element supplementation for just a few weeks. These trace elements are involved in thyroid hormone metabolism and their deficiencies cause thyroid dysfunction. However, there have been few reports on the details of its clinical course. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old man presented with thyroid dysfunction due to Se and Zn deficiency. He had an approximately 70-cm residual small intestine after undergoing intestinal resection and he received TPN without trace element supplementation for one and a half months. Blood tests revealed high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) and low levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3). An abnormal pattern of thyroid function led to suspicion of Se deficiency. Se supplementation raised FT3 levels and lowered FT4 levels to within their respective reference ranges; however, subclinical hypothyroidism persisted with transient TSH elevation. We suspected that Zn deficiency also contributed to the hypothyroidism and, therefore, initiated Zn supplementation, which resulted in normalization of thyroid function. DISCUSSION: Although thyroid dysfunction has been reported in many studies conducted on Se and Zn deficiencies, hormonal patterns vary between reports. Further accumulation of cases, including detailed data on nutritional status, would be of benefit to elucidate the clinical reality. CONCLUSION: It is important to consider Se and Zn deficiencies when TSH and FT4 levels are elevated. It should also be noted that transient TSH elevation may be observed with Se supplementation.

The early-stage clinical course of anti-pituitary-specific transcription factor-1 hypophysitis diagnosed post-immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment: A case with review of literature.

Anti-pituitary-specific transcription factor-1 (PIT-1) hypophysitis, a paraneoplastic syndrome resulting from an autoimmune response against PIT-1, typically manifests with undetectable levels of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL), and significantly low levels of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) at diagnosis. These hormonal levels are highly specific to this disease and serve as key diagnostic indicators. Herein, we present a detailed clinical course of a 69-year-old male with a history of gastric cancer and lymph node metastases who developed anti-PIT-1 hypophysitis after the initiation of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, specifically nivolumab, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine. The patient was referred to our department owing to decreased TSH, free triiodothyronine (T3), and free thyroxine (T4) levels after two doses of nivolumab. Initially suspected as central hypothyroidism due to ICI-related hypophysitis, further assessment confirmed the diagnosis of anti-PIT-1 hypophysitis. Notably, GH, PRL, and TSH levels markedly declined, leading to complete deficiencies 2 months after the first nivolumab dose-a pattern consistent with that of previous cases of anti-PIT-1 hypophysitis. Therefore, this report not only presents an atypical subset of ICI-related hypophysitis but also delineates the process of hormone impairment leading to complete deficiencies in anti-PIT-1 hypophysitis. This case highlights the importance of vigilant monitoring for endocrine issues in patients undergoing ICI therapy, given the escalating incidence of immune-related adverse events associated with the extensive use of ICI therapy for various cancers.

Two Cases of Adrenal Cysts Lined by Thyroid Follicular Epithelium: Addressing Cellular Origin and Malignancy Concerns.

Adrenal cysts lined by thyroid follicular epithelium are rare, with only 14 reported cases of "ectopic thyroid tissue" to date. While the primary consideration for differential diagnosis is thyroid carcinoma metastasis, exclusion of metastases is determined based on the absence of a primary thyroid lesion, serological euthyroidism, lack of thyroglobulin elevation, and absence of epithelial atypia. Herein, we report 2 cases of adrenal cysts lined by thyroid follicular epithelium. Case 1 was a 60-year-old woman with a right adrenal cyst. Case 2 was a 51-year-old man with a left adrenal cyst. Over time, both cysts became larger, necessitating an adrenalectomy. Cystic epithelia were lined with thyroid follicular epithelium, exhibiting moderate atypia. Human bone marrow endothelial cell marker-1 and galectin-3 were focally positive; CK19 was positive in Case 1, and all 3 markers were positive in Case 2, previously reported as an immunophenotype of thyroid carcinoma. CD56 expression was positive in both cases. Targeted next-generation sequencing revealed several low-frequency mutations; however, no major driver alterations for thyroid cancer were detected. Adrenal cysts can be lined by thyroid follicular epithelium. Challenges arise in determining the malignant or benign nature of adrenal cysts.

Prolonged Hypokalemia Following Metyrapone Treatment for Primary Bilateral Macronodular Adrenal Cortical Disease.

Surgical treatment is generally the standard therapeutic regimen used for primary bilateral macronodular adrenal cortical disease (PBMACD). However, in cases for which surgery is difficult or in which there is mild cortisol hypersecretion, metyrapone treatment can be selected. Although hypokalemia has been occasionally noted following metyrapone administration for Cushing syndrome associated with an adrenal adenoma, all such cases have been reported to be transient. Hypokalemia induced by metyrapone treatment is thought to occur due to excessive suppression of cortisol secretion, resulting in overproduction of adrenocorticotropic hormone from the pituitary gland, ultimately leading to excessive production of 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) in the adrenal cortex. A 52-year-old man diagnosed with PBMACD and started on metyrapone treatment subsequently presented with persistent hypokalemia. Interestingly, following initiation of metyrapone, blood test findings indicated marginal changes in serum cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels, even when DOC levels were already markedly elevated. In addition to the effects of metyrapone, the present findings suggest a unique DOC synthesis regulatory mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of PBMACD.

Effects of the Cortisol Milieu on Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells in Corticotroph Tumors.

CONTEXT: Corticotrophs are susceptible to lymphocyte cytotoxicity, as seen in hypophysitis, suggesting that an immunological approach may be a potential strategy for corticotroph-derived tumors. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to clarify whether corticotroph tumors that induce hypercortisolemia (ACTHomas) could be targets for immunotherapy. METHODS: Tumor-infiltrating immune cells were immunohistochemically analyzed. ACTHomas were compared with other pituitary tumors, and further divided into 3 different cortisol-exposed milieus: Naïve (ACTHomas without preoperative treatment), Met (ACTHomas with preoperative metyrapone), and SCA (silent corticotroph adenomas). A 3-dimensional cell culture of resected tumors was used to analyze the effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors. RESULTS: The number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was low in ACTHomas. Among these, the number of CD8+ cells was lower in ACTHomas than in both somatotroph and gonadotroph tumors (both P < .01). Then we compared the differences in TILs among Naïve, Met, and SCA. The number of CD4+ cells, but not CD8+ cells, was higher in both Met and SCA than in Naïve. Next, we investigated tumor-associated macrophages, which could negatively affect T cell infiltration. The numbers of CD163+ and CD204+ cells were positively associated with cortisol levels. Moreover, tumor size was positively correlated with the number of CD204+ cells. CONCLUSION: We found the possibility that ACTHomas were immunologically cold in a cortisol-independent manner. In contrast, the tumor infiltration of CD4+ cells and M2-macrophages were associated with the cortisol milieu. Future studies are needed to validate these results and develop effective immunotherapy while considering the cortisol milieu.

Fluctuations in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentration may predict the onset of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related hypophysitis.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-related hypophysitis (RH) is a common immune-related adverse event. The early detection of ICI-RH prevents life-threatening adrenal insufficiency. However, good predictors of secondary adrenal insufficiency in ICI-RH have not yet been reported. We hypothesized that fluctuations in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels occur similarly to those in thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroid hormone (thyroxine and triiodothyronine) levels in ICI-related thyroiditis. Here, we sought to test this hypothesis. Patients who used ICI and had a history of measurement of plasma ACTH and serum cortisol concentrations were retrieved from electronic medical records, and those with a history of glucocorticoid use were excluded from the analysis. We evaluated fluctuations in plasma ACTH and serum cortisol concentrations and the development of ICI-RH. For patients with ICI-RH, data at three points (before ICI administration (pre), maximum ACTH concentration (peak), and onset of ICI-RH) were analyzed to evaluate hormone fluctuations. A total of 202 patients were retrieved from the medical record. Forty-three patients were diagnosed with ICI-RH. Twenty-six out of 43 patients had sufficient data to evaluate fluctuations in plasma ACTH and serum cortisol concentrations and no history of glucocorticoid use. ACTH concentrations changed from 37.4 (29.9­48.3) (pre) to 64.4 (46.5­106.2) (peak) pg/mL (1.72­fold increase, p=0.0026) in the patients with ICI-RH before the onset. There were no differences in cortisol concentrations between the pre and peak values in patients with ICI-RH. We also evaluated the fluctuations in plasma ACTH and serum cortisol levels in patients who did not receive ICI-RH (62 cases). However, elevation of plasma ACTH levels was not observed in patients without ICI-RH, suggesting that transient elevation of plasma ACTH levels is a unique phenomenon in patients with ICI-RH. In conclusion, plasma ACTH levels were transiently elevated in some patients with ICI-RH before the onset of secondary adrenal insufficiency. Monitoring the ACTH levels and their fluctuations may help predict the onset of ICI-RH.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus affected by potential toxicity from long-term use of nivolumab.

We present a case of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) that developed in a 53-year-old man after long-term treatment with nivolumab. The patient underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer at 40 years of age, and he was started on nivolumab at age 48 years for treatment of a recurrent lesion that proved resistant to standard chemotherapy. Nivolumab treatment resulted in complete response, but, after the 136th infusion of the drug at age 53 years, the patient was hospitalized for sudden onset of diabetic ketoacidosis. He was diagnosed with immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced T1DM (ICI-DM), which developed 1988 days (284 weeks) after initiation of nivolumab. HLA typing revealed disease susceptibility alleles for both fulminant T1DM and ICI-DM. With the increased survival after the ICI treatment, delayed-onset irAEs after long-term use of ICI have been reported; however, delayed-onset ICI-DM remains to be elucidated. This case provides important insight into ICI-DM that develops after prolonged ICI administration, and it suggests that patients should be monitored for ICI-DM regardless of the duration of ICI therapy.

The combination of doxazosin and metyrosine as a preoperative treatment for pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.

PURPOSE: Preoperative medical management is critical to prevent intraoperative cardiovascular complications in patients with pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). Initial treatment involves α-adrenergic receptor blockers. However, while the routine use of metyrosine alongside these blockers is not strongly recommended due to a lack of evidence supporting its efficacy and associated safety concerns, there are previous studies on combination therapy with phenoxybenzamine and metyrosine. There are few reports on combination therapy with the selective α1-adrenergic receptor blocker doxazosin. Therefore, we investigated this combination treatment, which theoretically can affect perioperative outcomes in patients with PPGLs. To our knowledge, this is the first such study. METHODS: This retrospective single-center observational study involved 51 patients who underwent surgical resection of PPGLs at Kobe University Hospital between 2014 and 2022. All patients received doxazosin at maximum doses. Fourteen patients received concomitant metyrosine, while 37 received doxazosin alone. Their perioperative outcomes were compared. RESULTS: No severe event, such as acute coronary syndrome, was observed in either group. Intraoperatively, the doxazosin + metyrosine group exhibited a lower median minimum systolic blood pressure (56 [54-60] vs. 68 [59-74] mmHg, P = 0.03) and required lower median remifentanil (P = 0.04) and diltiazem (P = 0.02) doses than the doxazosin-alone group. CONCLUSION: The combination of metyrosine and doxazosin as a preoperative treatment for PPGLs affects intraoperative circulatory hemodynamics, such as a reduced occurrence of blood pressure elevation during surgery. Further research is necessary to identify patients who will benefit most from this combination treatment.

Composite paraganglioma-ganglioneuroma with atypical catecholamine profile and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase expression: a case report and literature review.

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare tumors that secrete catecholamines and arise from the adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal sympathetic ganglia. These tumors secrete adrenaline and noradrenaline, but paragangliomas usually produce only noradrenaline because of the lack of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) expression. Composite paragangliomas, which are complex tumors consisting of multiple types of neuroblastic cells, are extremely rare. We present the case of a 46-year-old woman with an atypical catecholamine profile who was preoperatively diagnosed with pheochromocytoma. However, postoperative pathology revealed that the patient had an extra-adrenal paraganglioma accompanied by a ganglioneuroma, which led to the diagnosis of a composite tumor. Interestingly, PNMT is expressed in both paragangliomas and ganglioneuromas. In addition, we reviewed reported composite paragangliomas and compared their clinical features with those of composite pheochromocytomas. We also discuss various aspects of the etiology of composite paragangliomas and the mechanism by which PNMT is expressed in tumors.

Newer parameters of the octreotide test in patients with acromegaly.

PURPOSE: Predicting the therapeutic effects of first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs) is important when assessing or planning effective treatment strategies in patients with acromegaly. The oft-used maximum growth hormone (GH) suppression rate parameter of the octreotide test has a suboptimal predictive value. Therefore, this study explored newer parameters of the octreotide test for predicting the therapeutic effect of long-acting fg-SRLs. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, the octreotide test parameters and the therapeutic effects of fg-SRL at 3 months were investigated in 45 consecutive treatment-naïve patients with acromegaly between April 2008 and March 2023. Additionally, the relationship between the octreotide test parameters and the therapeutic effects of fg-SRLs was investigated. Tumor shrinkage was evaluated based on changes in the longitudinal diameter of the macroadenomas. The area GH suppression rate-time under the curve (AUC) and the time to nadir GH level were calculated and compared with the maximum GH suppression rate. RESULTS: The AUC estimated reductions in serum insulin-like growth factor I, and tumor shrinkage. The time to nadir GH level predicted tumor shrinkage more robustly than the maximum GH suppression rate in patients with macroadenoma. CONCLUSION: The AUC and time to nadir GH level may potentially be newer parameters of the octreotide test for estimating the therapeutic effect of fg-SRLs.

Clinical features of anti-pituitary-specific transcription factor-1 (PIT-1) hypophysitis: a new aspect of paraneoplastic autoimmune condition.

The pathogenesis of anti-pituitary-specific transcription factor-1 (PIT-1) hypophysitis was gradually revealed as cases emerged. Our comprehensive analysis, including all reported cases, identified a new instance of anti-PIT-1 hypophysitis postimmune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. All 9 patients exhibited extremely low growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels; 2 had a slightly atrophic pituitary gland; 4 had thymoma, and 5 had malignant neoplasms of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and other origins. Patients with thymoma showed multiple autoimmune diseases. HLA-A*24:02 and/or A*02:06 were present in six and DR53 in 5 cases analyzed. High anti-PIT-1 antibody titers and ectopic PIT-1 expression in the cytosol and nucleus of the tumor tissues were observed in patients with thymoma or DLBCL, whereas it was exclusively observed in the nuclei of a bladder cancer patient. These findings provide new insights into the pathophysiology of paraneoplastic autoimmune hypophysitis.

Paraneoplastic isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency revealed after immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy: new insights into anti-corticotroph antibody.

Introduction: A recently discovered facet of paraneoplastic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency exists in two forms: a paraneoplastic spontaneous isolated ACTH deficiency (IAD) and an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-related hypophysitis. Autoantibodies against corticotrophs, such as circulating anti-proopiomelanocortin (POMC) antibodies are considered disease markers. However, the number of identified cases was limited, implying that the characteristics of these autoantibodies are not fully understood. Methods: We investigate circulating autoimmune autoantibodies in detail through a novel case of IAD that developed as a paraneoplastic autoimmune ACTH deficiency. Results: The patient developed IAD after 25 weeks of ICI therapy for metastasis of large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma at 69 years of age. Ectopic ACTH expression and infiltration of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD20+ lymphocytes were observed in the tumor tissues and circulating anti-POMC antibodies were detected specifically in the patient's serum. Moreover, detailed analyses of immunofluorescence staining using patient serum revealed that the recognition site of the autoantibody was ACTH25-39, which had not been identified in previous cases of paraneoplastic autoimmune ACTH deficiency. Conclusion: This case involved a combination of paraneoplastic spontaneously acquired IAD and ICI-related hypophysitis occupying the middle ground. Moreover, our study reveals new aspects of anti-POMC antibodies in patients with paraneoplastic ACTH deficiency. This report expands our understanding of the immunological landscape and provides new insights for the identification of antibodies associated with paraneoplastic autoimmune ACTH deficiency.

Diagnosis and management of prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas: a Pituitary Society international Consensus Statement.

This Consensus Statement from an international, multidisciplinary workshop sponsored by the Pituitary Society offers evidence-based graded consensus recommendations and key summary points for clinical practice on the diagnosis and management of prolactinomas. Epidemiology and pathogenesis, clinical presentation of disordered pituitary hormone secretion, assessment of hyperprolactinaemia and biochemical evaluation, optimal use of imaging strategies and disease-related complications are addressed. In-depth discussions present the latest evidence on treatment of prolactinoma, including efficacy, adverse effects and options for withdrawal of dopamine agonist therapy, as well as indications for surgery, preoperative medical therapy and radiation therapy. Management of prolactinoma in special situations is discussed, including cystic lesions, mixed growth hormone-secreting and prolactin-secreting adenomas and giant and aggressive prolactinomas. Furthermore, considerations for pregnancy and fertility are outlined, as well as management of prolactinomas in children and adolescents, patients with an underlying psychiatric disorder, postmenopausal women, transgender individuals and patients with chronic kidney disease. The workshop concluded that, although treatment resistance is rare, there is a need for additional therapeutic options to address clinical challenges in treating these patients and a need to facilitate international registries to enable risk stratification and optimization of therapeutic strategies.

Instability of harmonized thyroid-stimulating hormone immunoassays in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) harmonization is effective in minimizing differences between the results of immunoassays in healthy subjects. However, the effectiveness of TSH harmonization in clinical practice has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the instability of TSH harmonization in clinical practice. METHODS: We compared the reactivities of four harmonized TSH immunoassays using combined difference plots of 431 patients. We selected patients with statistically significant deviations in TSH levels and analyzed their thyroid hormone levels and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: The combined difference plots showed that one harmonized TSH immunoassay exhibited markedly different reactivity even after TSH harmonization compared with the other three immunoassays. Among 109 patients with mild-to-moderate elevation of TSH levels, we selected 15 patients with statistically significant deviations in TSH levels according to the difference plots of three harmonized TSH immunoassays, excluding one immunoassay that showed different reactivity. The thyroid hormone levels of three patients were misclassified as hypothyroidism or normal due to deviating TSH levels. In terms of clinical characteristics, these patients were in poor nutritional status and general condition, possibly due to their severe illness (e.g., advanced metastatic cancer). CONCLUSION: We have confirmed that TSH harmonization in clinical practice is relatively stable. However, some patients showed deviating TSH levels in the harmonized TSH immunoassays, indicating the need for caution, particularly in poorly nourished patients. This finding suggests the presence of factors that contribute to the instability of TSH harmonization in such cases. Further investigation is warranted to validate these results.

The Impact of Multicultural Interfacility Video Case Conference: A Novel Education Model After the COVID Pandemic.

Context: The COVID-19 pandemic challenged undertaking gradual educational activities for residency and fellowship trainees. However, recent technological advances have enabled broadening active learning opportunities through international online conferences. Objective: The format of our international online endocrine case conference, launched during the pandemic, is introduced. The objective impact of this program on trainees is described. Methods: Four academic facilities developed a semiannual international collaborative endocrinology case conference. Experts were invited as commentators to facilitate in-depth discussion. Six conferences were held between 2020 and 2022. After the fourth and sixth conferences, anonymous multiple-choice online surveys were administered to all attendees. Results: Participants included trainees and faculty. At each conference, 3 to 5 cases of rare endocrine diseases from up to 4 institutions were presented, mainly by trainees. Sixty-two percent of attendees reported 4 facilities as the appropriate size for the collaboration to maintain active learning in case conferences. Eighty-two percent of attendees preferred a semiannual conference. The survey also revealed the positive impact on trainees' learning regarding diversity of medical practice, academic career development, and confidence in honing of presentation skills. Conclusion: We present an example of our successful virtual global case conference to enhance learning about rare endocrine cases. For the success of the collaborative case conference, we suggest smaller cross-country institutional collaborations. Preferably, they would be international, semiannually based, and with recognized experts as commentators. Since our conference has engendered multiple positive effects on trainees and faculty, continuation of virtual education should be considered even after the pandemic era.

Combined Hypophysitis and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Related to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Context: The occurrence of multiple endocrinopathies due to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is a relatively common adverse event. However, the occurrence of a combination of hypophysitis and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is extremely rare, and its clinical features are unclear. Objective: We comparatively analyzed the clinical features of this combination and each individual ICI-induced endocrinopathy. Methods: We reported 3 cases that we encountered and reviewed previously reported cases of patients with combined hypophysitis and T1DM due to ICIs. Results: Anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) antibodies were prescribed to all 3 cases. The duration from ICI initiation to the onset of endocrine disease was 12 to 48 weeks. Several human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotypes that have disease susceptibility to hypophysitis were detected in all 3 patients. With the 17 previously reported cases, combined endocrinopathies were more common in men (85%). The onset age was in the 60s for both combined and single endocrinopathies. Anti-PD-1 antibodies were used in most of the cases (90%). The time from ICI initiation to the onset of endocrinopathies was 24 (8-76) weeks for hypophysitis and 32 (8-76) weeks for T1DM in patients with combined endocrinopathies, which was not significantly different from that for each single endocrinopathy. Conclusion: We presented 3 cases of patients with combined endocrinopathies of hypophysitis and T1DM that may have been caused by anti-PD-1 antibodies. There was no difference in the time from ICI initiation to the onset of endocrinopathies between combined and single endocrinopathies. Further case accumulation and pathogenic investigations are required.