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Query: UMLS:C0020672 (hypothermia)
 17,327 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The petrified auricle is a clinical entity in which the auricle, in part or total, has become stone-hard and moves as a rigid unit. This uncommon condition is most often due to ectopic calcification of the auricular cartilage. It may occur as a result of local trauma, in association with various systemic diseases such as Addison's disease, hypopituitarism, thyroid or parathyroid disorders, or following radiation therapy. Auricular ossificans (ectopic ossification) is a rare phenomenon in which the rigidity of the petrified ear is due to replacement of the elastic cartilage by bone. In the literature there are presently nine cases documented histologically. Two more cases are reported here. In most cases, the auricular changes are preceded by acute, severe hypothermia (frostbite). Exostoses of the external auditory canal is another disease of the external ear in which the proliferation of bone follows chronic mild hypothermia of the external auditory canal caused by exposure to cold water while surfing. It is postulated that if surfers who have developed exostoses of the external auditory canal from the cold water continue to enjoy such littoral activities, ossification of the auricle may also occur.
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PMID:The petrified auricle: comments on ossification, calcification and exostoses of the external ear. 399 Apr 87

An 18-year-old white woman had nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Copper-colored skin was noted on physical examination, and serum chemistry values were normal. Subsequent fever, disorientation, and confusion led to the discovery of Addison's disease, which responded well to corticosteroid replacement therapy. Addisonian and anorexic patients exhibit clinical similarities, including nausea, vomiting, weight loss, abdominal pain, cold intolerance, hypothermia, and orthostasis. Other commonalities include prolongation of electrocardiographic PR and QT intervals and generalized slowing on electroencephalogram. Important differences include a brown color to the skin in Addison's disease instead of a yellowish color in anorexia. Addisonian patients also display hypocortisolism, hypoglycemia, and hyperkalemia, in contrast to the hypercortisolism, hyperglycemia, and hypokalemia seen in anorexia.
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PMID:Prompt differentiation of Addison's disease from anorexia nervosa during weight loss and vomiting. 949 78

Pituitary coma is a rare case of emergency and primarily due to ACTH and TSH deficiency. Pituitary coma occurs more often in patients with well-known pituitary deficiency than in patients with intrasellar tumor. Clinical manifestations are hypotonia, bradycardia, decreased skin and nipple pigmentation, muscle weakness, vomitus, nausea, obstipation, hypothermia, and hypoventilation. A postpartal agalactia is often the first sign of Sheehan's syndrome. Unlike primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) ACTH deficiency does not cause hyperpigmentation, hyperkalemia, or salt loss. The suspicion of pituitary coma requires replacement with 100 mg hydrocortisone iv, 200 mg hydrocortisone iv/24 h, 500 micro g levothyroxine iv and fluid substitution. Since thyroxine accelerates the degradation of cortisol and can precipitate adrenal crisis in patients with limited pituitary reserve, hydrocortisone replacement should always precede levothyroxine therapy. ACTH stimulation test, CRH stimulation test and insulin tolerance test (optional) should be performed after therapeutic compensation to determine pituitary function.
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PMID:[Hypophyseal coma]. 1468 87

Calcification or ossification of the auricle, also referred to as petrified ear, is a rare diagnosis in dermatology. In medical literature, it has most often been attributed to trauma, hypothermia and frostbite, or hypercalcemia secondary to a metabolic or endocrine disorder, such as Addison's disease. Here, we report the clinical and radiologic findings of a 79-year-old African American male whose unilateral petrified auricle was an incidental finding. He had a preceding history of hyperparathyroidism and subsequent hypercalcemia treated with a subtotal parathyroidectomy three years prior to presentation. In addition to laboratory analysis, a history and physical examination was performed which revealed no other signs of hypercalcemia. Radiologic studies demonstrated partial ossification of the external auricular cartilage on the left side. The patient was diagnosed with the rare occurrence of a petrified ear. In light of this case, we provide a discussion concerning the possible etiologies of this diagnosis including appropriate patient evaluation and possible treatment recommendations.
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PMID:A rare case of petrified ear. 2325 82