Increased Risk of Unfavorable Metabolic Outcome in Patients with Clinically Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas.

The aim of this study was to investigate atherosclerotic risk markers in women with clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (CNFAs). Records of 47 women with CNFAs and 73 healthy women who were treated as outpatients between January 2010 and March 2014 were evaluated retrospectively. All study data were obtained from file records. Lipid parameters, mean platelet volume (MPV), total testosterone (TT), androstenedione (AS), and dehydroepiandrostenedione sulfate (DHEAS) were recorded. Insulin resistance (IR) was calculated with homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Among the atherosclerotic risk markers, the HOMA-IR and AS levels were higher in patients with CNFAs than in healthy subjects (p=0.003, p=0.021, respectively). A positive correlation between AS and insulin/HOMA-IR levels was found among the metabolic parameters in the patients with CNFAs (p=0.001, r=0.550, p=0.004, r=0.498, respectively). The data showed that patients with CNFAs had high atherosclerotic risk markers such as insulin resistance and hyperandrogenemia. Insulin resistance may also cause hyperandrogenemia in patients with CNFAs.

Characterization of V804M-mutated RET proto-oncogene associated with familial medullary thyroid cancer, report of the largest Turkish family.

PURPOSE: Analysis of the RET proto-oncogen is very important for diagnosis and prognosis of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Genotype-phenotype correlation is also well known. Here we report features of the largest known family in Turkey with the V804M-mutated RET proto-oncogene. METHODS: Thirty members from three generations were evaluated. A RET proto-oncogen mutation, calcitonin (Ct) measurement and thyroid ultrasound were performed on all individuals. Seventeen members had V804M mutation. Fourteen of these patients underwent total thyroidectomy and additional central lymph node dissection for five subjects. RESULTS: The mean age of patients with MTC was 46.5 (30-61) years. The mean calcitonin level of RET positive members was 13.27 pg/mL (1-49.8 pg/mL). Three had a basal Ct level above normal limits. Seven of the 14 patients were diagnosed with MTC, and two were diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer without MTC. One patient had central neck metastasis. Hyperparathyroidism or pheochromocytoma was not detected in any case. Patients who were RET negative, had normal Ct levels and no suspected nodule on ultrasound examination. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a relatively good prognosis in patients with V804M mutation. Despite the surgery was performed in older age no advance disease was observed.