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Endocrinology Cheat Sheet by

A brief guide covering the basics of Endocrinology before examining patients

Hormone Axes

Endocr­inology is understood based on feedback loops
Example: Hypoth­alamus → Pituitary → Target Gland → Hormone → Feedback

Systems Review History

Thyroid
Diabetes
Adrenal
Pituitary
Past History
Weight loss/gain
Polyuria, polydipsia
Fatigue, dizziness
Headache, vision
Endocr­ine­/au­toi­mmune disorders
Heat/cold intole­rance
Fatigue
Pigmen­tation
Libido­/fe­rtility
Surgeries, radiation
Palpit­ations, tremor
Infections
Nausea, salt craving
Galact­orrhea
Neck swelling
Neurop­athy, vision
  
Growth changes
Hair/s­kin­/mood changes

Systems Review Physical

General Inspection
Vitals
Hands/Arms
Face & Neck
Chest
Abdomen
Legs
Neuro
Body habitus
BP (± orthos­tatic)
Tremor
Eye signs (lid lag, exopht­halmos)
Gyneco­mastia
Central obesity
Myopathy
Visual fields
Skin/h­air­/voice
HR
Palmar erythema
Eye signs (lid lag, exopht­halmos)
Hair distri­bution
Striae
Reflexes
CN exam (pitui­tary)
Scars, pigmen­tation, striae
Blood glucose
Myopathy
Thyroid: inspect, palpate, auscultate
  
Masses
Neuropathy
 
Temp
Reflexes
      
Edema
   
Skin changes

The Five Systems and Their Common Disorders

Thyroid
Hypo-/­Hyp­ert­hyr­oidism, Nodules, Goiter, Thyroi­ditis
Adrenal
Addison’s, Cushing’s, Conn’s (Hyper­ald­ost­ero­nism), Pheoch­rom­ocytoma
Pituitary
Prolac­tinoma, Acrome­galy, Hypopi­tui­tarism, Diabetes Insipidus
Pancreas
Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 & 2), Hypogl­ycemia
Gonadal
PCOS, Hypogo­nadism, Menstrual disorders

Key Symptoms

📉 Hypo
📈 Hyper
Weight Gain
Weight Loss
Fatigue
Sweati­ng/­Pal­pit­ations
Cold Intole­rance
Anxiety, Tremors
Consti­pation
Diarrhea
Depression
Heat Intole­rance
Amenorrhea
Irregular Periods

Sympto­m-Based Differ­entials

Symptom
Possible Differ­ential
Weight loss
Hypert­hyroid, diabetes, Addison’s, cancer
Weight gain
Hypoth­yroid, Cushing’s, insulin therapy
Amenorrhea
PCOS, prolac­tinoma, hypoth­alamic causes
Polyur­ia/­pol­ydipsia
Diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, hyperc­alcemia
Fatigue
Hypoth­yroid, Addison’s, diabetes, anemia

Consid­era­tions

Hormone excess­/de­fic­iency
Primar­y/s­eco­ndary gland problem
Mass effects (compr­ession, vision)
Systemic effects (metab­olic, menstrual, growth)
Timeline (acute, chronic, fluctu­ating
 

Labs

Lab
Indication
TSH + Free T4
Thyroid function (hypo/­hyper)
Cortisol ± ACTH
Adrenal function (Addis­on’­s/C­ush­ing’s)
OGTT + HbA1c
Glucose tolerance & diabetes control
Prolactin
Pituitary tumors, galact­orrhea, amenorrhea
PTH + Calcium
Hyper-­/Hy­pop­ara­thy­roidism
LH/FSH + Sex hormones
Gonadal axis function
Insuli­n/C­-pe­ptide
Differ­ent­iating type 1/2 diabetes, insuli­nomas

Common Syndromes

Syndrome
Key Features
Cushing's
Central obesity, moon face, purple striae, HTN, glucose intole­rance
Addison’s
Hyperp­igm­ent­ation, fatigue, hypote­nsion, salt craving, weight loss
Graves'
Hypert­hyroid + eye signs (exoph­tha­lmos, lid lag), diffuse goiter
Hypoth­yroid
Cold intole­rance, dry skin, weight gain, fatigue, slow reflexes
Acromegaly
Enlarged hands/­feet, coarse features, diabetes, spacing of teeth
Prolac­tinoma
Galact­orrhea, amenor­rhea, reduced libido, visual changes
PCOS
Irregular menses, hirsutism, acne, insulin resist­ance, obesity

Clinical Skills

Glucose (pin prick)
Visual field via confro­ntation
Thyroid exam (palpate, swallow, auscul­tate)
Visual signs (Cushi­ngoid features, tremor, myxedema)
Diabetic foot exam (vibra­tion, pinprick, monofi­lament)
                   
 

Metadata

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  • Published: 11th April, 2025

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