Pathology of the pituitary, parathyroid, thyroid and adrenal glands

The clinical presentation of pathology of these endocrine organs is usually of hyper- or hypo-secretion of hormones, enlargement and/or nodules found either clinically or radiologically. Hyperfunction usually results from hyperplasia or functioning neoplasms. Hypofunction usually represents destruction of the gland. Neoplasms may be functional or non-functional, and benign or malignant, the latter may also present as distant metastases. Many cases benefit from multidisciplinary team discussion, pre- and/or post-operatively. Most hyperplasia/neoplasia is sporadic, but a significant minority occurs in familial settings, for example multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndromes type 1 and type 2. Any of these endocrine organs can also be involved by non-endocrine primary malignancy, either by direct infiltration or blood-borne metastasis.