Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0476089 (endometrial cancer)
 11,379 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A historical review of the 28-year history of oral contraceptives from the viewpoint of correlation or lack thereof between drug toxic and pathologic effects seen in laboratory animals and those seen clinically is presented. Early high dose pills were expected to cause growth of uterine fibroids, but instead they had the unexpected effect of an estrogen dose-related venous thrombosis risk. Work on rats predicted that pills would cause liver cancers, but instead to slightly increase the incidence of being liver adenomas in women. Similarly, rat research predicted pituitary microadenomas. Pituitary effects in women, while rare, are thought to be due to prescription of pills to women with irregular cycles of pituitary origin. Progestins of the 17-acetoxy series were considered likely to produce breast cancers, as they had in beagle dogs. They apparently have not done so in women. They were reports in the mid-1970s that sequential pills containing 100 mcg ethinyl estradiol cause endometrial carcinoma. These pills have been discontinued. Recent evidence has been accumulating that low-dose pills containing levonorgestrel increase blood pressure and possible LDL-cholesterol. Risk of death from vascular disease, however, seems to be concentrated in women who smoke, especially those over 35.
 ...
PMID:Oral contraceptives: significance of their effects in man and relationship to findings in animal models. 267 91

Hirsutism is a disorder of excess growth of terminal hairs in androgen-dependent areas in women. Other cutaneous conditions associated with androgen excess are androgenetic alopecia, acanthosis nigricans, and acne. Hirsutism is often associated with measurably elevated androgen levels, but not in all cases. Androgens in women arise from the ovary and adrenal glands, and peripherally from skin and fat. The most common cause of hirsutism is polycystic ovarian syndrome. Patients with "idiopathic" hirsutism have normal ovulatory cycles and androgen levels. Other causes are late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing's syndrome, and the HAIR-AN syndrome. Pituitary, ovarian, and adrenal tumors are important, but rare causes of hirsutism. A thorough history and examination are important. Laboratory investigation is essential in women with moderate to severe, sudden onset or rapidly progressing hirsutism. Identification of the underlying etiology does not alter management, but detects patients at risk for infertility, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and endometrial carcinoma.
 ...
PMID:The clinical evaluation of hirsutism. 1884 15

Pituitary metastases are rare, and metastatic pituitary lesions originating from endometrial adenocarcinoma are extremely rare. These lesions can be mistaken for pituitary adenomas and their diagnosis can be very difficult. Pituitary metastases mostly affect the posterior lobe and patients may develop diabetes insipidus. Patients with endometrial cancer complicated with diabetes, including poor glycemic control, may also suffer from thirst, making it more difficult to diagnose diabetes insipidus. A 68-year-old woman who was being followed-up for primary endometrial adenocarcinoma was admitted for gradually worsened polyuria and polydipsia. Her laboratory findings were compatible with diabetes insipidus. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed thickening of the pituitary stalk, involvement of the superior pituitary gland, and disappearance of hyperintensity in the posterior lobe, indicating pituitary metastasis. Increased urine output and oral fluid intake in a patient with a diagnosis of carcinoma may indicate possible pituitary metastasis, and the hormonal insufficiency should be corrected to improve the patient's quality of life.
 ...
PMID:Endometrial adenocarcinoma metastatic to the pituitary gland: a case report and literature review. 3250 Jul 67