Endocrinology adult and paediatric

Details

Title

Endocrinology adult and paediatric

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HLS128

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect of competencies in the clinical biochemistry of endocrinology (adult and paediatric), be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• feedback loops in endocrinology and how they are exploited in diagnostic testing
• principles of pituitary disease, including acromegaly and dwarfism, prolactinoma/macroprolactin, diabetes insipidus, isolated hormone deficiency and panhypopituitarism
• dynamic function testing
• adrenal cortex function and its disorders, including steroid production, Cushing’s syndrome, assessment of reserve, Conn’s syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• pathophysiology of the adrenal medulla, including catecholamine metabolism, phaeochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, and measurement and interpretation of catecholamines and metabolites
• applied thyroid physiology, including congenital hypothyroidism and screening programmes, hypo- and hyper-thyroidism, autoimmune disease, autoantibodies, tumours including adenoma/carcinoma and medullary thyroid carcinoma
• the investigation of thyroid disorders, including radioactive iodine in vivo studies, investigation and monitoring therapy and problems of interpretation: binding proteins, drug effects, sick euthyroid syndrome
• the endocrinology of the gonads, including the pituitary-gonadal axis, sexual differentiation, precocious and delayed puberty, the ovarian cycle, metabolism of testosterone, ovarian failure and menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome
• investigation of female; infertility, hirsutism, virilisation
• hormone-replacement therapy, oral contraceptives – metabolic effects
• investigation of male infertility, gynaecomastia, feminisation, testicular tumours, testicular failure
• monitoring of fertility treatment
• the endocrine effects of cancer, including ectopic hormones, multiple endocrine neoplasia and neuroendocrine tumours.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the performance of the following technical procedures and laboratory skills:

• results of investigations and monitoring therapy
• the role of imaging
• perform dynamic tests such as insulin stress test and water deprivation tests
• assess tests of adrenal function
• appropriate monitoring of replacement therapy
• appropriate choice of tests to investigate and monitor thyroid disease, according to clinical circumstances
• the investigation of female androgenisation

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect of the competencies in the clinical biochemistry of endocrinology (adult and paediatric), be able to perform the clinical skills necessary to manage under supervision:

• liaison with the clinical team on the diagnosis, management and treatment, if appropriate, of the patient.