April 2021 Research Articles

Pituitary Tumors

Young Woman Fights Craniopharyngioma and Turner Syndrome

An article in the Daily Record highlights the case of a 19-year-old Scottish woman named Iona Atkins who is battling Turner Syndrome and a craniopharyngioma at the same time. Read more:

UCLA Endocrinologist Discusses Medication for Hypogonadism

The Urology Times featured an interview with UCLA endocrinologist Ronald S. Swerdloff, MD, MACP, discussing the approved indication and efficacy of an oral testosterone capsule called Jatenzo (testosterone undecanoate). On the same page is a report about another medication called Kyzatrex. The FDA has accepted a new drug application (NDA) for SOV2012-F1 (Kyzatrex), an oral testosterone undecanoate soft gelatin capsule that is intended to treat adult men with primary or secondary hypogonadism
Read more:

Cushing’s Drug Reports Positive Results at ENDO 2021

At the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, ENDO 2021 (held virtually this year) Recordati Rare Diseases reported positive phase III LINC 4 study result for the Cushing’s drug Isturisa® (osilodrostat). The findings indicate that Isturisa “provides rapid and sustained normalization of mean urinary free cortisol levels in the majority of patients.” Read more in BusinessWire:

Warning About Nasal Swab Tests for Post-Surgical Pituitary Patients

An article in HealthDay highlights a study that found that post-surgical pituitary patients and those with sinus issues should be warned against using the nasal swab COVID tests. It also finds that patients may have difficulty finding this information in online post-surgical instructions. Read more:

Misdiagnosis Leads Acromegaly Patient to Pituitary Apoplexy

A story in walesonline.co.uk explores the 15-year medical journey of a woman diagnosed with a tumor on her adrenal gland, then acromegaly, then pituitary apoplexy. Read more:

Study Finds Triple Risk of Death With Endogenous Cushing’s

A study released at ENDO found that people with endogenous Cushing’s Syndrome have 3 times higher death rates, mostly due to infection and cardiovascular disease.
Read more:

April 2021 Medical Corner

Reducing Nelson’s Syndrome in Cushing’s Patients

This month the PNA Medical Corner spotlights an article co-authored by PNA member Dr. Jason Sheehan of the University of Virginia at Charlottesville. The study finds that refractory Cushing’s disease patients who undergo stereotactic radiosurgery before having a bilateral adrenalectomy have a lower risk of Nelson’s syndrome.
Acta Neurochir (Wien)
2021 Mar 24.
doi: 10.1007/s00701-021-04823-1. Online ahead of print.

Stereotactic radiosurgery before bilateral adrenalectomy is associated with lowered risk of Nelson's syndrome in refractory Cushing's disease patients

Adomas Bunevicius 1, Karen Lavezzo 1, Philip W Smith 2, Mary Lee Vance 3, Jason Sheehan 4
Affiliations expand

PMID: 33759014 DOI: 10.1007/s00701-021-04823-1

Abstract

PNA Spotlight: Dr. Brian Williams

This month the PNA Spotlight focuses on Dr. Brian Williams, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, KY. He started his education with a B.A. in Biology from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He earned his M.D. at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. He then completed in internship in surgery and a residency in neurosurgery at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. He then progressed to a fellowship in skull base and cerebrovascular surgery at Auckland City Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand; and a third fellowship in neurological oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Dr. Williams answered a series of questions from PNA editors. His responses follow.