The issue of “Progress in Medicine” we hereby present to you is devoted to imaging in endocrinology.

Endocrinology is presently one of the most dynamically developing fields of medicine. It is an exceptionally interdisciplinary specialization. The very diagnostics of endocrine diseases requires cooperation of endocrinologists not only with clinical analysts but also with radiologists and ultrasound and nuclear medicine specialists. Consultations of neurosurgeons, surgeons, obstetricians, paediatric oncologists or many other specialists are necessary to interpret the obtained examinations’ results.

The above mentioned dynamic development of endocrinology is strongly related to a great progress in medical imaging techniques, beginning from classical radiology through ultrasonography, computer tomography, magnetic resonance, positron emission tomography to the most dynamically developing methods of nuclear medicine. Therefore, it seemed reasonable to devote the entire issue to the progress of imaging in the diseases of endocrine glands.

The first two original works of this issue include interdisciplinary problems related to metabolic disorders and obesity. They were prepared with the cooperation of Student Scientific Associations functioning at CMKP Clinic of Endocrinology. The population of high school students was investigated and, as a result, it was proven that a newly suggested waist-height rate (WH-R) is, similarly as the body mass index (BMI), a good predictor of the increased metabolic risk. Also, a positive correlation between cholesterol level in the examined adolescents and the occurrence of hyperlipidemia and ischemic heart disease in the family was demonstrated. This confirms the need for closer health monitoring of the children with a positive family history of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

The article concerning imaging of the hypothalamus-pituitary gland region with magnetic resonance in the patients with diabetes insipidus has proven the usefulness of this method for confirmation of the disease, but also for revealing of its causes. A high percentage of iatrogenic diabetes insipidus in the investigated group of patients might be somewhat surprising.

Another article concerns the so far underestimated problem of complications regarding cardiac muscle morphology in the patients with hypercortisolemia. In almost all patients with Cushing syndrome, the performed echocardiography revealed abnormalities concerning the left ventricle of the heart. For this reason such examination should be performed routinely in the patients with hypercortisolemia.

The common and serious deficit of this vitamin was demonstrated in the work evaluating supply of vitamin D in the patients of Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic. Moreover, the uncontrolled administration of dietary supplements or multivitamin preparations does not compensate this deficit.