Pathology Cheat Sheet
Map the Endocrine Mass
Pancreatic and adrenal pathology for NEET-PG: pancreatic head adenocarcinoma, Addison disease, Waterhouse-Friderichsen, Cushing, and phaeochromocytoma.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Map the Endocrine Mass
Pancreatic and adrenal pathology for NEET-PG: pancreatic head adenocarcinoma, Addison disease, Waterhouse-Friderichsen, Cushing, and phaeochromocytoma.
Pancreatic carcinoma and the disorders of the adrenal gland including insufficiency, Cushing syndrome, and adrenal neoplasms.
High-yield lines
- Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma most commonly arises in the head of the pancreas.
- Pancreatic cancer is associated with smoking, chronic pancreatitis, and KRAS mutation.
- Cancer of the pancreatic head causes painless obstructive jaundice with a palpable gallbladder (Courvoisier sign).
- Trousseau sign of migratory thrombophlebitis is a paraneoplastic feature of pancreatic cancer.
- CA 19-9 is a serum marker used to monitor pancreatic carcinoma.
- Addison disease is primary adrenal insufficiency causing low cortisol with hyperpigmentation from raised ACTH.
- Autoimmune adrenalitis and tuberculosis are common causes of Addison disease.
- Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome is acute adrenal haemorrhage in meningococcal septicaemia.
- Cushing syndrome is cortisol excess, most often from exogenous steroids or an ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma.
- Phaeochromocytoma arises from adrenal medullary chromaffin cells and secretes catecholamines causing episodic hypertension.
- Phaeochromocytoma follows the rule of tens and stains with chromogranin.
- Conn syndrome is an aldosterone-producing adrenal adenoma causing hypertension and hypokalaemia.
Mapped competency codes
- PA32.6
- PA32.7
- PA32.8
- PA32.9
Continue into the full chapter
This summary maps to PA32-endocrine-system.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does carcinoma of the pancreatic head present?
As painless obstructive jaundice with a palpable non-tender gallbladder, the Courvoisier sign, sometimes with migratory thrombophlebitis.
What is Addison disease?
Primary adrenal insufficiency with low cortisol and, because of raised ACTH, characteristic skin hyperpigmentation, commonly due to autoimmune adrenalitis or tuberculosis.
What is Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome?
Acute adrenal insufficiency from bilateral adrenal haemorrhage, classically complicating meningococcal septicaemia.
What does phaeochromocytoma secrete?
Catecholamines from adrenal medullary chromaffin cells, causing episodic hypertension, headache, palpitations, and sweating.
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