[Incidental findings in endocrinology. When to observe and when intervention is necessary]

Hirsutism, gynecomastia or delayed puberty are usually benign conditions. However, underlying serious disorders must be excluded. Abnormalities in thyroid hormone measurements with contraceptives, glucocorticoids or severe nonthyroid disease must be differentiated from "true" impairments of thyroid function that require specific treatment. Increasingly, abnormalities are detected incidentally (incidentaloma) by diagnostic imaging procedures in organs such as the pituitary or the adrenal gland. Apart from judgements based on the original size of the tumor or the progression in size during observation, functional evaluation is always necessary to decide whether surgery should be recommended.