Diabetes insipidus and polydipsia in a patient with Asperger's disorder and an empty sella: a case report.

The paper describes a patient with Asperger disorder, Neurogenic Diabetes Insipidus (NDI) and Primary Empty Sella (ES). His response to vasopressin treatment suggested a concomitant presence of primary polydipsia. This is the first reported case of an autistic spectrum disorder associated with NDI or ES. The implications of the observed co-occurrence of these relatively rare disorders are discussed in relation to diagnosis and pathogenesis.

[Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus induced by interferon-alpha]. / Diabete mellito insulino-dipendente indotto da interferon-alfa.

The efficacy in viral neoplastic illness of IFN alpha therapy is responsible of an increasing use of this drug. Disease like hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, thyreotoxicosis, pernicious anemia, LES, vasculitis, thrombocytopenic purpura and, more recently, diabete mellitus, have been described during IFN alpha therapy. We describe another case of diabetes mellitus induced by IFN alpha.

[A rare case of nonmetastatic paraneoplastic hypercalcemia (humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy) associated with mucinous carcinoma of the stomach]. / Un raro caso di ipercalcemia paraneoplastica non metastatica (Humoral Hypercalcemia of Malignancy) associato a carcinoma mucinoso dello stomaco.

Humoral Hypercalcemia of Malignancy (HHM) is frequently associated with neoplasms of lung, kidney and ovary. We described a rare case of Humoral Hypercalcemia of Malignancy associated with mucinous gastric carcinoma.

A prospective randomized trial of levothyroxine suppressive therapy for solitary thyroid nodules.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of L-thyroxine therapy versus placebo over a 12-month period on volume of solitary thyroid nodules. DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical trial; placebo and control groups followed for one year in three centres. PATIENTS: One hundred and one euthyroid patients with single palpable colloid thyroid nodules. MEASUREMENTS: Serum thyroid hormones, TSH, thyroglobulin, anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies measured at the first visit and after 2, 6 and 12 months; nodule volume and contralateral thyroid lobe thickness measured by ultrasound in double blind fashion; nodule diameter measured by palpation every 6 months. RESULTS: In the treatment group the nodule volume measured by ultrasound decreased progressively but not significantly; in the placebo group no changes were demonstrated. The number of nodules which decreased in size was however significantly larger in the treatment group. None of the initial parameters was predictive for the response. In the treatment group the nodule size assessed by palpation showed a significant decrease after 12 months when compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: In non-endemic areas TSH suppression induces nodule volume reduction measured by ultrasound which, although not significant, seems to be progressive and occurring only in a subgroup of patients. Significant palpatory nodule reduction is probably related to decreased thickness of the surrounding thyroid tissue still responsive to TSH.

[Hashimoto's thyroiditis presenting as a "hot nodule"]. / Tiroidite di Hashimoto presentatasi come "nodulo caldo".

Hashimoto thyroiditis is clinically the most variable thyroid disease. We describe a case presenting as "hot nodule". This unusual scintigraphic appearance and its possible explanation are discussed.

Hürthle cell hyperplasia and sarcoidosis of the thyroid.

We report of a case of Hürthle cell hyperplasia of the thyroid that was correctly identified preoperatively by fine-needle aspiration cytology but was unexpectedly associated with sarcoid granulomas. To our knowledge, the association has not been previously reported. The rarely described thyroid involvement by sarcoidosis is briefly reviewed.