Increased incidence of euthyroid and hyperthyroid goiters independently of thyrotropin in patients with acromegaly.

The incidence of palpable goiters, the thyroid functional state and thyroid radioisotope uptake was analyzed retrospectively in 80 patients with acromegaly and 80 patients with prolactinomas. 71% of all patients with acromegaly had an enlargement of the thyroid (goiter); 49% of them had diffuse and 39% nodular goiters. The incidence of goiters in patients with prolactinomas from the same iodine deficient geographic region was only 35% (82% diffuse and 18% nodular).

[Treatment strategies for parathyroid neoplasms].

Parathyroid carcinoma, as a malignant tumour of an endocrine gland, is a rare entity. This causes difficulties in the diagnosis as well in the therapeutic approach. Some clinical courses of this malignant disease are demonstrated.

Importance of early diagnosis and follow-up in multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN II B).

Three patients with a sporadic form of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) IIb are presented. MEN IIb is the association of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MTC), pheochromocytoma and multiple mucosal neuromata. The age at diagnosis and primary therapy of MTC was relatively late (8, 16, 18 years) although thyroid enlargement (two cases), typical marfanoid habitus (two cases) or multiple mucosal neuromata (one case) had been evident since early childhood.

Gynecomastia caused by estrogen containing hair lotion.

Two men at the age of 48 and 54 yr developed gynecomastia and lost their potency after the use of estrogen containing hair lotions. During exposure to the lotion the levels of 17-beta estradiol were increased, whereas the levels of testosterone and gonadotropins were depressed. Thus, a previous application of such hair lotions should be considered in the differential diagnosis of gynecomastia.

[Parathyroid carcinoma].

The parathyroid carcinoma is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. It deserves special attention in regard to diagnosis and treatment. Within a period of 10 years we observed 117 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) at the University Hospitals of Ulm and Heidelberg.