Abdominal and pelvic imaging findings associated with sex hormone abnormalities

Abstract

Hormones are substances that serve as chemical communication between cells. They are unique biological molecules that affect multiple organ systems and play a key role in maintaining homoeostasis. In this role, they are usually produced from a single organ and have defined target organs. However, hormones can affect non-target organs as well. As such, biochemical and hormonal abnormalities can be associated with anatomic changes in multiple target as well as non-target organs. Hormone-related changes may take the form of an organ parenchymal abnormality, benign neoplasm, or even malignancy. Given the multifocal action of hormones, the observed imaging findings may be remote from the site of production, and may actually be multi-organ in nature. Anatomic findings related to hormone level abnormalities and/or laboratory biomarker changes may be identified with imaging. The purpose of this image-rich review is to sensitize radiologists to imaging findings in the abdomen and pelvis that may occur in the context of hormone abnormalities, focusing primarily on sex hormones and their influence on these organs.

Sildenafil Citrate Induces Prostatic Hyperplasia in BPH Model Rats and Aged Rats

“…Endocrine homeostasis serves as the basis for the physiological function of the human body. Disturbance in hormone homeostasis can precipitate aberrations in organ parenchyma, benign neoplasms, and potentially malignant tumors 41 . It is well known that the progression of BPH involves a collaborative combination of androgens, including testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androstenedione (A4), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and androsterone (A) and estrogens, primarily including E2 and E1, which collectively regulate the growth and development of the normal pros-tate, thereby driving the pathogenesis of BPH 42 .…”