Low libido despite high normal testosterone levels in a male with an FSH-secreting pituitary macroadenoma.

Summary: Functioning gonadotroph adenomas with clinical manifestations are extremely rare and the majority of these are FSH-secreting macroadenomas. Clinical symptoms are due to excess gonadotrophins and sex hormones, and these may be present for a long time before the diagnosis of pituitary adenoma is made. We present the case of a 37-year-old Caucasian male with clinical manifestations of an FSH-secreting pituitary macroadenoma. He had sexual dysfunction for a year followed by bilateral testicular pain and enlargement which was initially treated as suspected recurrent epididymitis, but his symptoms did not resolve. He presented a year later with headaches and bilateral superior temporal visual field defects. Brain imaging confirmed a pituitary macroadenoma with optic chiasm compression. Pituitary profile demonstrated an unusually high FSH with high normal LH and normal testosterone level. The patient successfully underwent transsphenoidal hypophysectomy and histology confirmed gonadotroph differentiation and immunoreactivity predominantly with FSH. Gonadotrophin levels and testosterone dropped significantly after surgery, and he was started on testosterone replacement. MR imaging, 2 years post surgery, showed no recurrence of pituitary adenoma. In conclusion, testicular enlargement and hypogonadal symptoms associated with low testosterone levels are recognised features in FSH-secreting pituitary adenomas. Our patient had hypogonadal symptoms but consistently high normal testosterone levels prior to surgery. The reason for low libido despite high testosterone is unclear. Our case highlights the need to suspect such rare underlying pituitary pathology when dealing with unusual combinations of hypogonadal symptoms, testicular enlargement with low or normal testosterone levels. Learning points: Functioning pituitary adenomas that secrete excess follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are very rare and often present with symptoms related to pituitary mass effect. Testicular enlargement alongside sexual dysfunction are commonly reported symptoms amongst male patients. Pituitary profile results demonstrate a raised FSH level with either a low, normal, or even high testosterone level which may not always correlate to clinical symptoms. Pituitary pathology should be considered in males presenting with unusual combinations of testicular enlargement and hypogonadal symptoms even with normal testosterone levels.

Recurrent croup is a good indicator of underlying paediatric airway issues: A 10-year retrospective cohort study of airway endoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: Children with a history of recurrent croup alert the ENT clinician to the potential for underlying laryngotracheal pathology. There is equipoise about the likelihood of identifying any underlying structural issues or subglottic stenosis in those children who undergo airway assessment. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study in a tertiary UK paediatric hospital of a decade of children with recurrent croup who underwent a rigid laryngo-tracheo-bronchoscopy (airway endoscopy). MAIN OUTCOME(S): airway pathology seen on endoscopy and need for further airway surgery. RESULTS: In ten years, 139 children underwent airway endoscopy for recurrent croup. Operative findings were abnormal in 62 (45 %) cases. Twelve cases (9%) had subglottic stenosis. Although recurrent croup was more common in males (78% of cases), this was not found to predispose them to operative findings. Children with previous intubations had >2 times the risk of abnormal findings and children born prematurely (<37 wks) had a trend towards abnormal operative findings versus children with no airway findings in our cohort. Even in those patients with abnormal findings, none necessitated further airway surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons and parents can be reassured that rigid airway endoscopy for children with recurrent croup demonstrated high diagnostic utility but will rarely lead to further surgical intervention. Greater understanding about recurrent croup may require consensus clarification about definitions of recurrent croup and/or a universal adoption of a minimum standard operative record or grading system after rigid endoscopy for recurrent croup.

Carbon monoxide: raising awareness of the silent killer in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless gas produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon containing materials. CO poisoning causes a range of symptoms of which headache is the most common, occurring in up to 90% of patients. An audit in the Emergency Department at University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK found a lack of clinical awareness among healthcare professionals (HCPs) with CO exposure being considered in only 0.8% of patients presenting with non-traumatic headache. This Quality Improvement Project (QIP) aimed to increase this consideration to 50% of presentations. METHODS: Three separate sequential Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles were instigated. Interventions involved verbal reminders to frontline HCPs (cycle 1), using strategically placed CO posters (cycle 2) and finally designing and introducing a CO sticker education scheme (cycle 3). These stickers, highlighting the approved CO COMA acronym, were placed in patient notes to serve as a physical reminder for HCPs when seeing patients. Rapid cycle sequencing was used with each cycle lasting 2 weeks. Patient notes were analysed for evidence that the HCP considered a diagnosis of CO. RESULTS: An average of 61 patients were included in each PDSA cycle. Given baseline findings, each cycle demonstrated positive results with CO awareness being considered in 1.7% and 10.0% of patients with non-traumatic headache following cycles 1 and 2, respectively. The final PDSA cycle demonstrated significant increase in consideration of CO to 42.1% of non-traumatic headache presentations. CONCLUSION: This QIP demonstrated that even small interventions can lead to significant change in awareness of CO exposure. Implementation of a CO sticker education scheme is a feasible way of increasing awareness among emergency care professionals and serves as a low-cost, easy to use, transferable and sustainable solution to address the lack of CO awareness in acute emergency settings. Importantly, this serves to promote improved patient safety.

Dapagliflozin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus - an update.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is a global health concern with a prevalence of 463 million people. Importantly, despite the availability of numerous antidiabetic medications, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. One particular drug of interest is dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that is commonly used in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). AREAS COVERED: This review outlines the current use and pharmacology of dapagliflozin, with a specific focus on recent evidence regarding benefits in patients with cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. The article includes an overview of the efficacy and safety of this drug and provides the reader with the expert opinion and perspectives of the authors. EXPERT OPINION: Increasing evidence of the beneficial effects on morbidity and mortality in patients with Type 2 diabetes and concurrent heart failure, acute MI and renal failure are likely to see the usage of dapagliflozin in patients with these comorbidities increase over the next 5 years.

The role of multidisciplinary decision making in oropharyngeal cancer: do we follow guidelines and are treatment decisions being implemented?

PURPOSE: A multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to cancer management is gold-standard. With an increasing disease incidence and growing research into human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), updated UK management guidelines were recently published. This study aimed to evaluate the MDT decision-making process among OPC patients at a tertiary centre. METHODS: MDT meetings over a 12-month period were analysed retrospectively. MDT decisions were compared with guidelines and patient records examined to identify decision implementation. Reasons behind any discordant decisions were explored. RESULTS: This study included 140 OPC patients. Thirty-three (23.6%) were not tested for HPV. Patients over 70 years with a smoking history treated palliatively were less likely to be tested (P = 0.017). Eighty-five percent of MDT decisions followed guidelines with the majority not complying (76.2%) related to patient comorbidity. Ten decisions (7.1%) were not implemented. Reasons included: Seven due to patient choice, of which four patients (57.1%) were only seen following the MDT meeting, and three due to clinician decisions as new clinical information emerged. CONCLUSION: The majority of MDT decisions followed guidelines and any discordant decisions were justifiable. Discussing management options with patients beforehand facilitates decision implementation as decisions can potentially change after seeing the patient. Progress is still needed with regards to HPV testing. Reasons for not testing could include subliminal decision-making among clinicians, and patients falling between centres. Crucially, the role of the MDT in head and neck cancer should be to ratify decisions rather than making them, hence the need to see patients prior to MDT discussion.

Laryngeal ulceration in Behçet's disease: the role of centres of excellence in the UK.

INTRODUCTION: Behçet's disease (BD) is a rare complex multisystem inflammatory condition characterized by the triad of symptoms: aphthous ulcers of the mouth and genitalia and uveitis. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 31-year-old Caucasian male who had a prolonged journey from first presentation until diagnosis of BD. For 11 years, he presented symptoms affecting the oral cavity and oropharynx, with worsening odynophagia and dysphagia and ultimately, development of stridor. Flexible laryngoscopy showed significant laryngopharyngeal ulceration and scarring. Treatment was with colchicine, corticosteroids and azathioprine and supervised by one of three newly established BD Centres of Excellence in the UK. DISCUSSION: Although uncommon, ENT manifestations in patients with BD should be taken into consideration to allow for early recognition and treatment of what can become a life-threatening condition. In such situations, early referral to a BD Centre of Excellence is essential to provide confirmation of diagnosis and supervision of treatment.