CASE 6
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Jane, a 32-year-old woman, has been a patient of yours since moving to Calgary six years ago. Since
giving birth to her first child, now 8 months of age, Jane has suffered from debilitating headaches for
which you have found no explanation. During a recent check-up, Jane mentions that she has missed a
number of menstrual periods over the past eight months; she assures you there is no chance she
could be pregnant again, and tests confirm that. You ask Jane if she has been experiencing any other
unusual symptoms. Other than fatigue, which is normal for any new mom, she can think of nothing.
However, you notice that her hands and feet appear somewhat enlarged, and her facial features seem
slightly different than before the pregnancy. Again, this could be attributed to fatigue, but you decide
to run some tests to rule out anything more serious.
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What endocrine gland do you suspect might be implicated in Jane's symptoms? Explain your
reasoning (2)
List the hormone(s) produced by this gland. (1)
• You can confirm your suspicions by testing the levels of ONE of these hormones. Which hormone
will you test? Explain your reasoning. (2)
• The tests come back positive, indicating a higher-than normal level of the hormone you chose to
test. What is your final diagnosis? (1)
How would you treat Jane's symptoms? (2)