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Objective Few and conflicting reports have characterized the genetics of paediatric pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). This study aimed to investigate the clinical and genetic features of Brazilian children with PPGL. Patients and methods This study included 25 children (52% girls) with PPGL. The median age at diagnosis was 15 years (4-19). The median time of follow-up was 145 months. The genetic investigation was performed by Sanger DNA sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and/or target next-generation sequencing panel. Results Of the 25 children with PPGL, 11 (44%), 4 (16%), 2 (8%), 1 (4%) and 7 (28%) had germline VHL pathogenic variants, SDHB, SDHD, RET and negative genetic investigation, respectively. Children with germline VHL missense pathogenic variants were younger than those with SDHB or SDHD genetic defects [median (range), 12 (4-16) vs. 15.5 (14-19) years; P = .027]. Moreover, 10 of 11 cases with VHL pathogenic variants had bilateral pheochromocytoma (six asynchronous and four synchronous). All children with germline SDHB pathogenic variants presented with abdominal paraganglioma (one of them malignant). The two cases with SDHD pathogenic variants presented with head and neck paraganglioma. Among the cases without a genetic diagnosis, 6 and 2 had pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, respectively. Furthermore, metastatic PPGL was diagnosed in four (16%) of 25 PPGL. Conclusions Most of the paediatric PPGL were hereditary and multifocal. The majority of the affected genes belong to pseudohypoxic cluster 1, with VHL being the most frequently mutated. Therefore, our findings impact surgical management and surveillance of children with PPGL.

Objective To develop and internally validate a prognostic score to predict the risk of metastases or recurrence in patients with adrenal cortical carcinomas (ACC). Design Clinical, laboratory and pathological data from 129 ACC patients, treated in a tertiary centre, were retrospectively reviewed. Results Using a multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, we developed a prognostic score with five covariates: a functional pattern other than isolated hyperandrogenism, a tumour size >7·5 cm, a primary tumour classified as T3/T4, the presence of microscopic venous invasion and a mitotic index >5/50 high-power fields. The prognostic score was calibrated according to the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test (P = 0·9329) and exhibited excellent overall performance (Brier score = 0·0738). Finally, the discriminatory ability of the model, determined by the area under the ROC curve (AROC ), was near perfect (AROC , 0·9611; 95% CI, 0·92676-0·99552). The prediction model was internally validated with 200 bootstrap resamples and achieved excellent performance for estimating the risk of metastasis and recurrence in eight additional patients with apparently localized disease at diagnosis. Conclusion We developed and internally validated a prognostic score based on the clinicopathological data that are readily available to any attending physician. Our model can be used to accurately estimate the risk of unfavourable outcomes in ACC patients. This score could be beneficial for both patient counselling and the identification of patients in whom adjuvant mitotane is justified.

Summary In the early postoperative period of Cushing's disease patients, desmopressin may stimulate ACTH secretion in the remnant corticotrophic tumour, but not in nontumour suppressed cells. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the serum cortisol responses to desmopressin after pituitary surgery, establishing an optimal cut-off for absolute increment (Δ) of serum cortisol (F) suitable to predict recurrence risk. Design Retrospective case record study. Patients Fifty-seven Cushing's disease patients submitted to pituitary surgery and desmopressin stimulation in the early postoperative with a long-term follow-up (20–161 months) were studied. Methods and measurements Serum cortisol levels after desmopressin test (10 µg IV) 15–30 days after adenomectomy were used to determine ΔF (absolute increment of F: F peak − F baseline). Sensitivity and specificity of ΔF were calculated and a ROC curve was performed to establish an optimal cut-off for ΔF to predict recurrence risk. Results Fifteen patients had immediate postoperative failure (basal F > 165 nmol/l; 6 µg/dl) and one patient was lost during the follow-up. Forty-one patients achieved initial remission and were followed-up. Five of 11 patients who recurred had ΔF > 193 nmol/l (7 µg/dl), but none of 30 patients who remained in prolonged remission showed ΔF > 193 nmol/l after postoperative desmopressin stimulation. Conclusions Persistence of cortisol response (ΔF > 193 nmol/l) to desmopressin in the early postoperative period can help to identify Cushing's disease patients with initial remission who present risk for later recurrence.

Summary Objective To characterize clinical features and identify MEN1 germline mutations in Brazilian families with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). Settings Non-profit academic centre. Patients Fourteen Brazilian families with MEN1 and 141 at-risk relatives. Results We identified 12 different MEN1 disease-causing mutations, seven of them previously unreported: 308delC; 375del21; 549A>T (I147F); 1243delA; 1348T>G (L413R); 1351T>C (L414P) and 1523G>T (W471C). Families with the recurrent mutations 360delTCTA and L413R were shown to be unrelated by mitochondrial-DNA and Y-chromosome haplotype analyses. Most of the MEN1 single point mutations involved evolutionarily conserved residues, whereas most of the deletion/frameshift changes occurred in GC-rich repetitive regions. Genetic screening of 141 at-risk family members identified 38 MEN1 mutation carriers, 37 (97·4%) of whom had at least one major MEN1-related tumour upon clinical investigation. Conclusions High frequencies of MEN1 gene mutations were detected in Brazilian families with MEN1, including seven new genetic mutations that are predicted to cause inactivation of the MEN1 tumour suppressor gene. Our data underscore the need to implement a systematic MEN1 screening programme in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE The prevalence of Nelson's syndrome has varied greatly, at least in part because of the variability of the diagnostic criteria employed by different authors. We define Nelson's syndrome as the presence of an enlarging pituitary tumour associated with elevated fasting plasma ACTH levels and hyperpigmentation in patients with Cushing's disease after bilateral adrenalectomy. We have compared patients with Cushing's disease who developed Nelson's syndrome after bilateral adrenalectomy with those who did not. Our objective was to find differences between the two groups which might predict the development of Nelson's syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS We have reviewed the records of 30 patients with Cushing's disease after adrenalectomy, and divided them into two groups; I: 14 who developed Nelson's syndrome and II, 16 who did not. The two groups of patients were compared in their clinical, laboratory and imaging data as well as in the therapeutic procedures that preceeded the adrenalectomy. RESULTS The comparison between the two groups of patients demonstrated a highly significant difference in relation to the development of cutaneous hyperpigmentation (100% in group I and 19% in group II) and neuro-ophthalmological symptoms (21% in group I and 0% in group II) after adrenalectomy. There were no significant differences in laboratory data before adrenalectomy. After adrenalectomy, plasma ACTH levels increased significantly in the patients of both groups, but to much higher levels in those who developed Nelson's syndrome. Plasma ACTH concentrations above 154 pmol/l occurred only in the subjects with Nelson's syndrome. Before adrenalectomy, a pituitary tumour was more frequent in the patients who developed Nelson's syndrome (55% vs. 33% at transsphenoidal pituitary exploration). Pituitary surgery and irradiation were undertaken before adrenalectomy in approximately equal numbers of patients in each group. DISCUSSION The prevalence of Nelson's syndrome was 47% in our series of 30 patients with Cushing's disease after bilateral adrenalectomy. No clinical or laboratory data before adrenalectomy predicted the development of the syndrome. The value of prophylactic pituitary irradiation could not be evaluated from our clinical material. However, after adrenalectomy, the presence of hyperpigmentation and ACTH levels above 154 pmol/l had positive predictive value for the development of Nelson's syndrome. In this situation magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pituitary is mandatory and, if no tumour is detected, MRI should be repeated at intervals.

Summary Objective Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) with corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation is currently the gold standard test for the differential diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome. Reports on the use of desmopressin in this approach are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of desmopressin during BIPSS in a cohort of patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome. Design A retrospective case-record study. Patients Fifty-six patients with confirmed ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome underwent BIPSS with desmopressin stimulation when presenting negative pituitary tumour imaging. Measurements Central to peripheral (CEN:PER) ACTH gradient, lateralization of the ACTH source and surgical tumour confirmation were evaluated. Results A CEN:PER ACTH gradient was found in 40 patients under basal conditions (CEN:PER ≥ 2) and in 47 patients after desmopressin stimulation (CEN:PER ≥ 3). Ectopic ACTH-producing tumours (three lung carcinoid tumour, one thymus carcinoid tumour and one thymus hyperplasia) were confirmed in five out of nine patients without the CEN:PER ACTH gradient, and four cases were false negative for Cushing's disease. Lateralization (IPS:IPS ≥ 1·4) was observed in 80·8% of patients under basal conditions (38/47) and in 97·8% after desmopressin (46/47), and it was surgically confirmed in 78·7%. There were no false-positive cases. Sensitivity and specificity were 92·1% and 100%, respectively. Conclusions Desmopressin improves the differential diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome by amplifying the CEN:PER and IPS:IPS ACTH gradients, and is therefore a useful ACTH secretagogue in BIPSS.