PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Basaria

Publications and source records attributed to S Basaria.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

A rare pituitary lesion.

The majority of the sellar masses are pituitary adenomas. Non-adenomatous hypophyseal lesions are rare and include lymphocytic hypophysitis, idiopathic giant cell hypophysitis and granulomatous hypophysitis. The latter include lesions caused by conditions like tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, syphilis, histiocytosis X and mycotic infections. We report a case of a Sudanese woman who presented with a pituitary mass (presumed preoperatively to be an adenoma) and underwent trans-sphenoidal surgery. The final histopathology showed tuberculous hypophysitis. The patient did not have history of prior exposure to tuberculosis nor any evidence of infection elsewhere in the body. We also briefly review the literature on pituitary tuberculomas.

Female↗

Case of an ivory vertebra.

The differential diagnosis of an osteoblastic vertebral lesion (ivory vertebra) includes metastatic prostate cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, osteosarcoma and Paget's disease. We report a case of a man who was initially diagnosed with Paget's disease on vertebral biopsy. He failed to respond to conventional bisphosphate therapy. The review of the original biopsy specimen showed metastatic carcinoid tumor involving the bone marrow. The various features of carcinoid tumors metastasizing to the skeleton are briefly reviewed.

Alendronate↗

Corticotropin-independent Cushing's syndrome caused by an ectopic adrenal adenoma.

Although nonsecreting suprarenal embryonic remnants are frequently found in the urogenital tract, adenomatous transformation resulting in glucocorticoid excess is a rare phenomenon. We report a case of a 63-yr-old woman that presented with new-onset hirsutism, facial plethora, hypertension, centripetal obesity, and a proximal myopathy. The 24-h urinary free cortisol excretion rate was elevated, and the serum ACTH level was suppressed. The patient failed an overnight and low dose dexamethasone suppression test and did not respond to CRH stimulation. In light of the undetectable baseline morning ACTH levels and the blunt response to CRH, the diagnosis of corticotropin-independent Cushing's syndrome was made. Imaging studies revealed normal adrenal glands and enlargement of a left pararenal nodule incidentally observed 4 yr before the onset of symptoms. Dramatic resolution of symptoms was observed after surgical removal of the 3.5-cm mass. Pathological exam confirmed adrenocortical adenoma in ectopic adrenal tissue. The case reported here represents the unusual circumstance in which the development of adenomatous transformation of ectopic adrenal tissue has been prospectively observed with imaging studies. It illustrates the importance of considering ectopic corticosteroid-secreting tumors in the context of corticotropin-independent Cushing's syndrome.

Adenoma↗

Graves' disease and recurrent ectopic thyroid tissue.

Ectopic thyroid tissue is the result of abnormal migration of the gland as it travels from the floor of the primitive foregut to its destined pretracheal position. The prevalence of ectopic thyroid tissue ranges between 7%-10%. Patients with ectopic thyroid tissue are usually euthyroid, but can present with signs and symptoms of upper aerodigestive tract obstruction. We report a case in which ectopic mediastinal thyroid tissue was removed surgically because of substernal chest pain. It recurred 9 years later when the patient developed Graves' disease. We propose that the recurrence of the ectopic thyroid tissue was due to the influence of thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI).

Choristoma↗

Risks versus benefits of testosterone therapy in elderly men.

'Andropause', like menopause, has received significant attention in recent years. It results in a variety of symptoms experienced by the elderly. Many of these symptoms are nonspecific and vague. For this reason, many authors have questioned the value of androgen replacement in this population. Also in dispute is the normal cutoff level for testosterone beyond which therapy should be initiated, and whether to measure free or total testosterone. Testosterone levels decline with age, with the lowest level seen in men older than 70 years. This age-related decline in testosterone levels is both central (pituitary) and peripheral (testes) in origin. With aging, there is also a loss of circadian rhythm of testosterone secretion and a rise in sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels. Total testosterone level is the best screening test for patients with suspected hypogonadism. If the total testosterone concentration is low, free testosterone levels should be obtained. Prostate cancer remains an absolute contraindication to androgen therapy. Testosterone replacement results in an improvement in muscle strength and bone mineral density. Similar effects are observed on the haematopoietic system. Data on cognition and lipoprotein profiles are conflicting. Androgen therapy can result in polycythemia and sleep apnoea. These adverse effects can be deleterious in men with compromised cardiac reserve. We recommend that elderly men with symptoms of hypogonadism and a total testosterone level <300 ng/dl should be started on testosterone replacement. This review discusses the pros and cons of testosterone replacement in hypogonadal elderly men and attempts to answer some of the unanswered questions. Furthermore, emphasis is made on the regular follow-up of these patients to prevent the development of therapy-related complications.

Aged↗

Treatment of hyperlipidemia in women.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of death in the United States. It is responsible for the deaths of 480,000 people annually. Half of these fatalities are in women. More women die of CAD than due to all cancers combined. The clinical presentation of women with CAD can be very subtle, and atypical as compared to men. Furthermore, women also face a worse prognosis than men following surgical therapy for CAD. Hyperlipidemia is a well-known risk factor for CAD in women, particularly elevated triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol levels. Although estrogen replacement therapy has been considered a primary modality to alleviate some cardiovascular risk in post menopausal women, the results of the recently published HERS trial highlight the need for more research in this field.

Adult↗