Endocrinology

 

What is endocrinology?

Endocrinology is the medical specialty that deals with hormone and glandular disorders. This covers a huge spectrum of disorders and can affect every system of the body. It is usually divided broadly into two sections: diabetes and the rest of endocrinology.

Endocrinology Disorders

Thyroid disorders:

  • Thyrotoxicosis / hyperthyroidism / Graves’ disease / over active thyroid
  • Hypothyroidism / underactive thyroid
  • Goitre / enlarged thyroid
  • Thyroid nodules and cysts
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Thyroid hormone resistance

Pituitary disorders:

  • Acromegaly
  • Cushing’s disease
  • Prolactinoma
  • Hypogonadism
  • Hypopituitarism and growth hormone replacement therapy
  • Non functioning pituitary adenomas / other benign tumours
  • Diabetes insipidus

Adrenal disorders:

  • Addison’s disease
  • Endocrine hypertension
  • Conn’s syndrome
  • Cushing’s syndrome
  • Incidental benign adrenal tumours
  • Adrenal cancer
  • Phaeochromocytoma / paragangliomas / adrenaline secreting tumours
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Gonadal disorders:

  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome / PCOS
  • Hypogonadism / testosterone or estrogen deficiency
  • Premature ovarian failure
  • Disorders of sexual development and puberty
  • Turner syndrome
  • Kallman’s syndrome
  • Transgender patients
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Calcium and bone disorders:

  • Osteoporosis
  • Hyperparathyroidism (high calcium)
  • Hypoparathyroidism (low calcium)
  • Vitamin D deficiency

Miscellaneous metabolic and endocrine conditions:

  • Familial hypercholesterolaemia and other lipid disorders
  • Multiple endocrine neoplasia
  • Insulinoma
  • Reactive hypoglycaemia
  • Neuroendocrine tumours
  • Obesity

Further Information

For more information on endocrinology for doctors see www.endobible.com

For more information for patients please see the Society for Endocrinology patient links