Cutaneous manifestations of endocrine disorders: a guide for dermatologists.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic methodology or primary empirical data
PubMed 12688837 · doi:10.2165/00128071-200304050-00003
What was done
This narrative clinical review summarizes cutaneous signs and skin conditions associated with various endocrine disorders, including thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, Addison disease, acromegaly, hyperandrogenism, hypopituitarism, parathyroid disorders, and diabetes mellitus.
What was found
The abstract lists descriptive clinical features for each disorder, including pretibial myxedema and onycholysis in thyrotoxicosis; pale, myxedematous skin in hypothyroidism; striae, centripetal obesity, and moon facies in Cushing syndrome; hyperpigmentation in Addison disease; acral and soft tissue overgrowth in acromegaly; hirsutism and virilization in hyperandrogenism; and necrobiosis lipoidica and acanthosis nigricans in diabetes mellitus. No numerical data or diagnostic accuracy metrics are reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
Recognizing cutaneous hallmarks of endocrine conditions enables clinicians to pursue definitive diagnostic workups and disease-specific treatment rather than limiting care to symptomatic dermatologic management.
Limits
The abstract describes a non-systematic narrative review and provides no primary data, patient sample sizes, or quantitative metrics evaluating the sensitivity, specificity, or predictive value of the listed signs.
Cited by
- context Hypothyroidism causes myxedema, characterized by visible thickening and swelling of the face, neck, skin, and back of the arms rather than just adipose tissue.