Hair, sweat and tears.
Hirsutism is a frequent and distressing presenting symptom in women, often in the setting of menstrual irregularity and acne. While polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common cause, the differential diagnosis of hirsutism is wide ranging and requires a thorough history and appropriate investigations to exclude potentially serious underlying causes. Several serious underlying conditions require active exclusion, otherwise patients are at risk of missed diagnosis and long-term sequelae of the untreated primary disease. The authors present a case of acromegaly where longstanding hirsutism was the presenting symptom.
Endocrinology Department, St Vincents Hospital, Sydney, Australia. drsarahabdo@gmail.com
Sarah
S
Abdo
Katherine
K
Samaras
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D013546:Sweating